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Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

Position Summary and Purpose
The Behavioral Health Assessment and Outreach Clinician performs comprehensive behavioral health and substance use evaluations, determines provisional diagnoses, coordinates level-of-care (LOC) expectations with physicians and care teams, and conducts insurance pre-certifications. This role also builds and maintains strong relationships with referral sources across the region—conducting community outreach, monitoring referral trends, and resolving concerns—to improve access, streamline intake, and drive appropriate volume to UofL Health behavioral health services. 
As qualified by education, experience, and competence, Assessment/Referral Center Clinicians may be recognized under EMTALA policy as Qualified Medical Persons (QMPs) to conduct emergency behavioral health and substance use screening exams.

Essential Functions:
1.    Evaluate individuals seeking behavioral health/substance use treatment; determine provisional diagnosis and discuss treatment recommendations with patients, families, and medical providers.
2.    Coordinate LOC expectations with physicians, the Assessment Referral Center, patient care units, and external agencies; present clinical information to medical providers and collaborate with nursing on medical needs and appropriate level of care.
3.    Conduct assessments remotely via telehealth and/or on-site at local hospitals and community sites; provide assessment services across pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations as needed.
4.    Perform insurance prior authorizations/pre-certifications and support intake for admitted patients.
5.    Initiate and maintain structured face-to-face contacts with referral sources (e.g., hospitals/EDs, clinics, schools, community agencies) across the assigned region to promote services and facilitate smooth referral workflows.
6.    Review referral source data, track trends and conversion patterns, and provide feedback to improve access and service responsiveness.
7.    Process and help resolve referral source concerns/complaints in partnership with leadership; identify service enhancements that strengthen the referral experience.
8.    Maintain proficiency in legal and regulatory processes relevant to assessment and admission (e.g., voluntary status, EMTALA, Mental Inquest Warrant) and uphold HIPAA privacy/security at all times.
9.    Participate in department meetings, complete required trainings/competencies (e.g., BLS, Safe Crisis Management), and support continuous improvement.
10.  Demonstrate professional image, customer service excellence, and alignment to UofL Health values; comply with organizational policies, procedures, and standards of conduct.
11.  Performs other duties as assigned.
 

Additional Job Description:

Job Requirements
(Education, Experience, Licensure and Certification)
Education: Master’s degree in social work, counseling/clinical psychology, marriage & family therapy, mental health counseling, or closely related field required.

Experience: Minimum 2 years in a behavioral health setting (assessment/diagnostic, crisis intervention, or closely related), with demonstrated ability to work independently in clinical and/or community-facing environments. Experience developing relationships with community resources and referral partners preferred.

Licensure: Valid Driver’s License (required).  

Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) by American Heart Association (required) and Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training obtained within thirty days from date of hire. 

Other: Reliable internet connection installed at home and ability to maintain confidentiality in the home setting (for remote assessments).  Required telecommute equipment will be provided by UofL Health IT. 
 

Job Competency:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities critical to this role: 
•    Psychology; therapy and counseling principles; assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders; crisis evaluation; and LOC determination.
•    Service orientation, collaboration, and communication skills to build trust with internal teams and external partners; ability to represent services professionally in the community.
•    Social perceptiveness, active listening, critical thinking, problem sensitivity; integrity, valuing diversity, organizational alignment, and results-orientation.
•    Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); capacity to learn EMR systems and telehealth programs.

UofL Health Core Expectation:
At UofL Health, we expect all our employees to live the values of honesty, integrity and compassion and demonstrate these values in their interactions with others and as they deliver excellent patient care by:
•    Honoring and caring for the dignity of all persons 
•    Ensuring the highest quality of care for those we serve
•    Working together as a team to achieve our goals
•    Improving continuously by listening, and asking for and responding to feedback
•    Seeking new and better ways to meet the needs of those we serve 
•    Using our resources wisely
•    Understanding how each of our roles contributes to the success of UofL Health