Behavioral Health Therapist - York Emergency Department - Evenings

WellSpan Health; York (York County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Education assistance

DailyPay

Expanded Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

WellSpan Health is seeking a master’s‑level behavioral health professional to assist with triage, crisis intervention, and admissions coordination in the ED. The role requires documenting requests, determining level of care, and guiding patients through paperwork and referrals. Strong interprofessional collaboration and confidentiality focus are essential.

Qualifications include a Master’s degree and 2 years in psychology or related fields. A valid driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required
• 2 years experience in psychology, social work, or related field required
• Must possess a valid driver's license in the state of residence
• Knowledge of insurance/managed care processes for pre-certifications and authorizations

Responsibilities

• Triage requests for service and provide prompt assistance according to urgency
• Document all requests using computerized inquiry systems
• Complete procedures for pre-certifications/authorizations with third-party payers
• Use clinical judgment to make safety observations in the ED
• Determine appropriate level of care based on history, presentation, and funding
• Assist clients with paperwork and witness signatures as needed
• Coordinate care with providers and agencies and relay pertinent information
• Provide individual, family, or group therapy in the ED and manage behavioral health emergencies

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Crisis intervention

Clinical assessment

Communication

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Electronic Medical Records

Job description

Job Description

Full-time (80 hours biweekly)

Weekdays, evenings: 2 pm to 10 pm

Includes every-other weekend and rotating holidays

Sign On Bonus Eligible

General Summary

Assists with initial triage and assessment, provides clinical oversight, facilitates the admissions process, and serves as a resource about internal and external services. Assists with security and patient behavioral management and provides crisis intervention services.

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Triages requests for service, providing prompt assistance to all requests in relation to their urgency.


• Documents all requests for service using computerized inquiry functions.


• Maintains a knowledge base of insurance/managed care processes related to pre-certifications and authorizations and completes these as required.


• Uses independent clinical assessment / judgement to make safety observation recommendations in the ED.


• Determines appropriate level of care based on the client’s history, psychosocial history, clinical presentation, and funding situation.


• Instructs and assists the client and client family in completing all necessary paperwork, and witnesses signatures as necessary.


• Works cooperatively with program staff to transition the client to the program and participates in the conference call with the psychiatrist as necessary. Provides a summary of pertinent clinical information and special needs as a part of this process.


• Interacts with all clients and family members with an awareness of confidentiality requirements and patient rights issues, and sensitivity to the client’s and family’s level of distress and needs.


• Assists licensed individual practitioners with initial assessment of patients as they enter triage services.


• Completes all necessary procedures and/or documentation to have treatment authorized by 3rd party payers as needed.


• Completes all necessary procedures and /or documentation necessary to refer patients to other levels of care when appropriate, and / or to other types of service when needed.


• Communicates with and coordinate care with other providers or agencies who may be working with the patient including, but not limited to, the primary care physician, the school, Probation & Parole, Children & Youth, attorneys, clergy, and so forth.


• Using clinical decision-making skills, providing individual, family and group therapy in the ED setting for current ED patient caseload


• Uses independent clinical judgment and adheres to processes / standard work related to the coordination of care of Behavioral health patients.


• Maintains an awareness of community resources and provides this information to clients as requested.


• Serves as an initial contact for internal emergencies, administrative concerns, and public relations issues, and directs these contacts to the appropriate WellSpan Philhaven staff.


• Maintains an awareness of WellSpan Philhaven’s admission criteria and the Mental Health Procedures Act and serves as a resource for other WellSpan Philhaven staff concerning appropriateness for admission and mental health legal requirements.


• Maintains a knowledge base of behavioral management techniques and assists in behavioral management emergencies (BERT) throughout the ED.

Common Expectations

• Prioritizes workload and manages time effectively to best serve other staff and potential clients.


• Maintains a constant awareness of customer service and assists customers until their needs are satisfied.


• Completes Service Activity accurately and on a timely basis.


• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date awareness of WellSpan Philhaven programs and services and provides this information to clients as requested.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education

• Master's Degree Required

Work Experience

• 2-years experience in psychology, social work, or related field required

Driver's License Statement

Must possess a valid driver's license in the current state of residence. Driving record must meet requirements established by WellSpan Risk Management.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Requires interpersonal skills, both verbal and listening, to manage patient admission interaction, and to advise, counsel, and lead employees in compliance with policies.


• In addition, the ability to provide counsel on sensitive patient matters and act in a public relations capacity on various issues is required.


• Analytical ability is required to determine appropriate solutions to crisis calls and service inquiries.


• Visual ability to review and prepare written information and to observe patient behavior is required.


• Knowledge of and ability in the care and handling of patients in all age groups is required, including consideration of the special needs and behaviors of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Benefits Offered

• Comprehensive health benefits


• Retirement savings plan


• Paid time off (PTO)


• Education assistance


• Financial education and support, including DailyPay


• Expanded Paid Parental Leave

For additional details: Benefits & Incentives | WellSpan Careers (joinwellspan.org)

About Us

WellSpan Health’s vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value-based care, we encompass more than 2,300 employed providers, 250 locations, nine award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Our high-performing Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is the region’s largest and one of the best in the nation. With a team 23,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.

About The Team

WellSpan York Hospital

Built on a solid 140-year legacy of providing high-quality, high-volume, community-based care, WellSpan York Hospital, the largest of WellSpan’s eight hospitals, is a 596-bed acute care community teaching hospital that employs nearly 5,000 people, making WellSpan the largest employer in York County. Driven by a mission to provide exceptional care to all, WellSpan York Hospital serves a diverse population of more than 520,000 residents from the greater York County area. WellSpan York Hospital was one of several WellSpan Health hospitals honored by U.S. News & World Report with the High Performing recognition for 2022-23.

The hospital offers services and programs that feature highly skilled clinical staff, life-saving technology and state-of-the-art facilities to address some of the most complex medical, surgical and behavioral health conditions.

WellSpan York Hospital’s Regional Resource/Level 1 Trauma Center has been accredited by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation and is the only accredited trauma center in York, Adams and Franklin counties. It is a nationally recognized teaching hospital with nine residency programs, six allied health schools and other training programs. More than 700 physicians and other professionals are members of WellSpan York Hospital’s medical and dental staff.

WellSpan York Hospital in embarking on a significant five-year project. The centerpiece will be a new, eight-story surgical and critical care tower, which will dramatically expand the hospital’s intensive care unit as well as develop new state of-the-art surgical suites, making it one of the top 10 largest hospitals in Pennsylvania with approximately 600 beds.