Assessment Specialist

Hourly wage estimate: $25.99 - $38.98. Factors such as skills, experience, and comparison to other employees in the role may determine your actual salary.

About the role

The Virtual Patient Logistics Center (VPLC) Assessment Specialist (AS) supports hospital functions within the emergency department and inpatient medical units. Per Physician or Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant order, Assessment Specialists provide level of care assessments and recommendations (LOC) for patients presenting in acute mental health crisis and with other behavioral/mental health concerns. This position functions within a remote centralized team model and will offer support to all in-scope division partners across the HCA enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Respond to requests for assessment in facilities and locations serviced by an in-scope Patient Logistics Center (PLC). In partnership with the Patient Logistics Specialists (PLS), new requests for level of care assessments will be passed to the VPLC AS via the case queue.
• Adhere to confidentiality guidelines appropriately and ensure EMTALA and HIPAA compliance at all times; compliance concerns will be reported to leadership immediately.
• Coordinate communication necessary for a thorough assessment, including but not limited to collateral and key stakeholders responsible for the patient/knowledgeable of the sequences leading to the assessment, hospital staff and leadership, and local PLC staff.
• Respond to assessment as soon as possible and no later than 60 minutes from the initial request.
• Confer with ordering physician regarding the appropriateness of a patient’s legal status based on patient’s presentation and engagement during assessments. Must be knowledgeable of all state mental health/civil commitment laws for each state supported by VPLC.
• Complete detailed Risk Assessment within one of the 3 EHRs utilized by the facilities. Document Safety Plan recommendations in the patient’s EHR chart for the use of the ordering physician, if they so choose, upon patient disposition.
• Complete assessments in a timely manner and provide high-quality clinical care:
  • Initial Assessments – 90 minutes or less on average
  • Chart review – 30 minutes or less on average
  • Clinical interview – 30 minutes or less on average
  • Documentation – 30 minutes or less on average
• Engage with patients remotely via tele-video platform and implement skills necessary for proper clinical evaluation of patient.
• Work collaboratively with hospital departments to assist managing behavioral health assessment needs.
• Coordinate and participate with appropriate interested parties and physicians through the patient admission, treatment, and discharge process in the acute hospital setting.
• Track monthly individual performance via key performance indicators and quality metrics shared by leadership.
• Engage in clinical learning opportunities offered internally as well as meet the required continued education expectations of particular licensing board.

Requirements

• Possess a thorough knowledge of current behavioral health concepts, principles, and methods of treatment.
• Able to navigate technology solutions with minimal guidance/support.
• Comfortable with Telehealth solutions and providing care through a virtual platform.
• Possess good multitasking skills to navigate 5+ systems during a given shift to ensure quality care is provided to patients.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in the field of Mental Healthcare.
• Prefer 2 years’ experience in a behavioral/mental healthcare setting performing clinical duties, including assessment.
• Prior management/supervisory experience in a healthcare-related field preferred.
• Must hold and maintain licensure as a mental health professional (i.e., LCSW, LPC, LMHC, LP, etc.) within state of residence:
  • (LCSW) Clinical Social Worker, or
  • (LPC/LMHC) Licensed Professional/Mental Health Counselor, or
  • (LMFT) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or
  • (LMSW/RCSW-I) Licensed Master Social Worker/Registered Clinical Social Worker-Intern.
• Master’s Degree must be obtained within 6 months of employment start date if not already held.

Benefits

HCA Healthcare offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career, and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:

• Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health, and telemedicine services.
• Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services.
• Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage, and leaves of absence.
• Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support, and financial wellbeing counseling.
• Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships, and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing.
• Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection, and consumer discounts.

Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.