Behavioral Health Navigator I - UPMC McKeesport

UPMC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC Western Behavioral Health in McKeesport is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Navigator I to support the Emergency Department. The role focuses on assessment and navigation of patients and families, developing initial treatment plans to facilitate disposition and bed placement.

The navigator will communicate with attending psychiatrists and staff, manage a high volume of calls, and ensure timely referrals, with rotating shifts including days, evenings, nights, and weekends.

Qualifications

• Ability to document and complete required paperwork, including psychiatric evaluation.
• Knowledge of DSM-V and provisional diagnosis development.
• Knowledge of mental health laws and inpatient commitment reviews.
• Knowledge of insurance programs and ability to obtain authorizations.
• Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Maintains competency requirements.
• Proficiency with up-to-date technology for patient care.
• Able to handle high volume of calls and dispositions.
• Follows outpatient scheduling/referral documentation guidelines.
• Responds to appointment/inpatient requests via email/phone.
• Ability to present cases to physicians and others.
• Triages and assesses medical necessity.
• Provides resource information to patients and families.

Responsibilities

• Meet documentation standards and complete all required paperwork.
• Develop provisional diagnoses using DSM-V.
• Review inpatient commitment for accuracy and timing.
• Obtain authorizations and understand insurance processes.
• Participate in interdisciplinary staff meetings and committees.
• Maintain competency requirements.
• Utilize current technology in patient care.
• Handle high volume of calls and disposition planning.
• Follow scheduling and referral documentation guidelines.
• Respond to requests via email, phone, or voicemail.
• Summarize patient information for admissions and triage placement.
• Present cases to physicians and team members.
• Assess medical necessity and outpatient options.
• Provide resource-specific information to patients and families.

Skills

DSM-V knowledge

Triage

Communication skills

Assessment skills

Caseload management

Education

Undergraduate transcript

Graduate transcript

Job description

UPMC Western Behavioral Health is hiring a full-time Behavioral Health Navigator I to support UPMC McKeesport!

The Behavioral Health Navigator I is responsible for the assessment and navigation of patients and families in collaboration with attending psychiatrists and other staff within the UPMC McKeesport Emergency Department. They will develop initial treatment plan to facilitate disposition planning and assists with bed placement or disposition planning. They will have the ability to identify acuity level of patient and facilitate the flow of information to promote effective communication regarding the patient care and patient operations and disposition.

The incumbent will work three 12-hour rotating shifts, to include days, evenings, nights, and weekends. Shifts will typically be 6:30 am to 7pm and 6:30 pm to 7am with some variability. Must work 2 major and 2 minor holidays per year. Parking available on site.

*UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE (if applicable) TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE INCLUDED WITH APPLICATION*

Responsibilities

• Meet standards for documentation and completes all required paperwork, including psychiatric evaluation, commitment paperwork.
• Demonstrate ability to utilize DSMV and to develop provisional diagnosis.
• Demonstrate knowledge of mental health laws and reviews inpatient commitment for accuracy, competencies and proper time frames.
• Knowledge of insurance programs, processes and able to obtain authorizations as needed.
• Participate in interdisciplinary activities such as staff meetings and other committees as assigned.
• Maintain competency requirements.
• Learn and utilize up-to-date technology in delivery of patient care for assessment and disposition/referral planning.
• Efficiently take a sizable volume of calls and disposition callers to meet their needs rapidly
• Follow outpatient scheduling or referral documentation guidelines
• Responds rapidly to appointment or inpatient admission requests through email, phone, or voicemail
• Review and summarizes the patient information for admissions to a behavioral health unit and triaging patient for appropriate placement
• Ability to verbally present the case to physicians and others
• Demonstrate triage and assessment skills for medical necessity or appropriate outpatient clinic
• Provides accurate, timely information to coworkers, physicians, outside agencies, with a professional and courteous manner
• Demonstrates expertise in accessing social systems by providing resource-specific information to patients and families, initiating contact with appropriate resources and facilitating the patient/family's ability to accept referrals.