Behavioral Health Therapist

Description

Summary:
Provides triage, assessment and treatment to patients and families, assists with disposition planning and provision of education and resources, initiates psychiatric holds. Operates as an independently licensed behavioral health clinician.

Work Schedule: Full Time Days

Overview of the Addiction Consultation Service at University of Colorado Hospital

The Addiction Consultation Service (ACS) is a Monday through Friday hospital-based addiction consultation service fully staffed by hospitalists trained in addiction medicine, advanced practice providers with experience in addiction medicine, two dedicated addiction medicine social workers, and one care coordinator who also services as a peer recovery coach.

Our team utilizes a utilize a harm reduction and strengths-based approach to identify and build on our patients’ strengths, existing resources, and resiliency. Our team members meet with patients to inquire about their substance use goals using motivational interviewing. When indicated, we initiate medications for alcohol and opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine, methadone, oral or intramuscular naltrexone, or acamprosate. We manage complicated alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, we partner with teams to initiate emergency commitments with the state of Colorado, manage complex pain in the setting of opioid use disorder, and manage acute post-operative pain in patients on buprenorphine or methadone. We work with our hepatology colleagues to facilitate linkage to residential addiction treatment for patients following liver transplantation. Our social workers and care coordinator have visited a number of local treatment facilities and are savvy in linking patients to all levels of addiction-based care post hospital discharge including outpatient addiction clinics, intensive outpatient treatment, and residential treatment.

We are partners with the Univeristy of Colorado Addiction Recovery Treatment Services Opioid Treatment Program (ARTS-OTP) to directly enroll patients into methadone treatment during hospitalizations and titrate their methadone dose with direct, uninterrupted methadone dosing at ARTS-OTP upon hospital discharge. Our goal is to reduce stigma experienced by people who use substances and to provide patient centered care for all hospitalized patients with substance use disorders.

Job Description for ACS Social Worker

·         Each day, the ACS SW, Attending, Advanced Practice Provider (APP), Peer Navigator/Care Coordinator review list and parse outpatients each day: new consults and follow-up

·         Appropriate patients for SW to see alone

o   Patients interested in resources alone for alcohol, not interested in medications

o   Patients interested in resources for substances, not interested in medications

o   Stimulant use disorder, uncomplicated (cocaine, methamphetamine)

o   Interested in learning more about AA, NA, CA, etc.

o   Patient assistance getting into inpatient or outpatient care substance use

o   Post discharge follow up for buprenorphine or methadone (to be completed by care coordinator—see below)

·         Round on all patients who desire resource identification and provide resources

·         Safety plan for hospitalization (i.e., those outlined by the Tier Protocol)

·         Assessments:

o   Agile use of validated screening tools for unhealthy substance use Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C)¹, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) single-question screening for drug use, or the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) https://www.sbirtcolorado.org/sbirt-clinical-tools

o   Conduct psychosocial or ASAM assessment (see template below)

·         In hospital treatment, tailored to patient, i.e., motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, identifying treatment specific goals, cognitive behavioral therapy (when appropriate), family work

·         Relapse prevention plan

·         Harm reduction education. This includes safe injection practices; importance of clean water, cotton, use of tourniquets, skin cleaning, wound care, and encouraging people to use in groups for overdose reversal opportunities https://harmreduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Resource-SaferDruguse-GettingOffRightASafetyManualforInjectionDrugUsers.pdf

·         Complete SUD note for weekly SUD committee meeting and bill for services

·         Assist primary team with EC/IC process https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/alcohol-drug-emergency-commitmentalcohol-drug-involuntary-commitment

·         Care coordination and linkage to treatment post discharge

o   SW to communicate transfers with CeDAR staff

o   Care coordinator with ARTS team for in-hospital methadone enrollments

o   Follow up at local buprenorphine, methadone programs

o   Whenever possible, direct linkage to inpatient treatment

·         Become champions of addiction resources in metro Denver area, to include Medicaid, insured and uninsured populations

o   Resources to include, but not limited to: AA, NA, CA, etc, IOP, IRT (inpatient/residential), work for treatment programs, sober living, buprenorphine clinics, methadone clinics, community harm reduction programs

·         Annually update resources documents

·         Arrange site visits to local referral treatment centers to build connections with community partners

·         Assist SW colleagues with identifying community resources when able

·         Advocate for people with SUD by providing and modeling compassionate, patient-centered care

·         Work closely with Mom/Baby Unit SW to support them in whatever way they need to provide care for pregnant people with SUD

·         Participate in Substance Use Disorder Committee (SUD) meetings as needed

·         Participate in Complex Care Transitions Committee weekly meeting to provide support and offer guidance to our SW colleagues

·         Work collegially with our addiction medicine fellows and resident rotators

·         Identify/be willing to assist in creating system wide pathways for OUD/AUD treatment

·         Be familiar with Agile pathways: Opioid withdrawal, buprenorphine, pain management in OUD

One of the below certification(s) required:

• Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Licensed Addiction Counselor
• LSW
• LCSW

The pay range for this position is: $31.61 - $47.41 / hour. Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.

An annual bonus may be paid to eligible employees based upon organizational and individual performance.

UCHealth offers their employees a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. Some of the many benefits included in this package are full medical, dental and vision coverage; retirement plans; paid time off; employer-paid life and disability insurance with additional buy-up coverage options; tuition and continuing education reimbursement; and a full suite of voluntary benefits such as identity theft protection and pet insurance. Our employees and their family members have full access to our Employee Assistance Program, which includes up to 5 free counseling visits and work/life solutions, such as one free legal consultation. In addition, other emotional counseling support is available depending upon their need.

At UCHealth, we do things differently

We believe in something different: a focus on the individuality of every person. In big ways and small, we exist to improve the extraordinary lives of all those we serve. As Colorado’s largest and most innovative health care system, we as a team deliver on the commitment to provide the best possible experience for our patients and their families. We foster a true human connection and give people the freedom to live extraordinary lives. A career at UCHealth is more than a job, it’s a passion.

Going beyond quality requires the perfect balance of talent, integrity, drive and intellectual curiosity. We are looking for individuals who recognize, like us, that the world of medicine is ever-changing and are motivated to do what is right, not what is easy. We support creativity and curiosity so that each of us can find the extraordinary qualities within ourselves. At UCHealth, we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you grow and have a meaningful career. There’s no limits to your potential here.

Be Extraordinary. Join Us Today!

UCHealth recognizes and appreciates the rich array of talents and perspectives that equal employment and diversity can offer our institution. As an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, UCHealth is committed to making all employment decisions based on valid requirements. No applicant shall be discriminated against in any terms, conditions or privileges of employment or otherwise be discriminated against because of the individual’s race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, genetic information or veteran status. UCHealth does not discriminate against any “qualified applicant with a disability” as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations, when they do not impose an undue hardship on the organization.

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