The Behavioral Health Counselor is a licensed (or conditionally licensed) therapist providing outpatient psychotherapy treatment to patients including clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, ongoing risk assessment and crisis management.
Requirements
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provides outpatient therapy addressing behavior health issues from mental health to substance abuse for patients across the lifespan.
2. Documents patient treatments via EMR computer software.
3. Obtains/creates patient's psychosocial history.
4. Functions independently to perform age-appropriate history and physical for complex acute, critical and chronically ill patients.
5. Provides clinical consultation to medical staff relative to patient Behavioral Health issues.
6. Maintains clinical availability to deliver solution-focused and relationship-based therapy to the population.
7. Has the clinical ability to address family and relationship issues as adjunctive to patient care.
8. Understands and observes the necessary boundaries of their role.
9. Monitors the effectiveness of interventions.
10. Facilitates the patient’s transition within and between health care settings, e.g. admitting, transferring and discharging patients.
11. Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members by making appropriate referrals.
12. Documents care provided in the electronic health record of the patients cared for.
13. Ensures efficient, smooth and prompt delivery of health care services.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
1. Be committed to the mission of the Bucksport Regional Health Center.
2. Work as a member of the behavioral health team in the performance of duties.
3. Be punctual for scheduled work and use time appropriately.
4. Work in harmonious relationships with all staff, patients, vendors and others.
5. Perform duties in a conscientious, cooperative manner.
6. Perform required amount of work in a timely fashion with a minimum of errors.
7. Be neat and maintain a professional appearance.
8. Maintain confidentiality and protect the Center by keeping information concerning Operations, patients and employees confidential.
9. Assist in the care, observation, and the condition of patients including the execution of procedures prescribed for the direct treatment or therapy of patients.
10. Participation in community activities as a representative of Bucksport Regional Health Center.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by the Incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit, including prolonged periods of sitting; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, including operation of a standard computer keyboard; reach with hands and arms and talk, see and hear. Eye hand coordination and manual dexterity required. The employee must regularly lift/move up to 25 pounds, including assist with moving patients, as well as bend, stoop, stretch or crouch. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the incumbent encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed primarily in a typical physician's office environment. Noise level is usually quiet.
Potential exposure to hazardous and infectious materials, including blood borne pathogens.
The Behavioral Health practitioners will practice in the community including home visits, school and other social environments.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION NEEDED FOR POSITION
Experience and Skill Requirements: The following experience and skills are considered essential:
Education Requirements: The following education requirements are considered essential:
** All requirements and skills are considered to be essential, unless otherwise indicated. **
Bucksport Regional Health Center first opened its doors on August 12, 1974 in the building that is now the Alamo Theater in downtown Bucksport. It was staffed by two paramedics and physician assistants, supervised by an Emergency Department physician from EMMC. The first week, they treated 54 patients. A typical office visits was $5.
BRHC encountered many hurdles to stay afloat, it not only survived, it thrived into what it is today. By 1978-79, the Center was serving about 6800 patients and a new facility, at 110 Broadway, where it is currently located, was opened on July 11, 1981.
On or about the 20th anniversary, the building acquired an addition to expand services. Later another addition was added to house the dental suite. In 2011, as part of the Affordable Care Act, BRHC received federal funding to expand the front of our building which now houses our education room and our Behavioral Health Services.
Today the health center offers primary medical care, dental services and behavioral health and serves just under 8,000 people in Bucksport and 10 surrounding towns. We have a well-equipped staff to serve our patients’ needs. Bucksport Regional Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center and receives federal funding to allow the provision of services to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
The mission of the Bucksport Regional Health Center is to service the primary health care needs of the people of our service area, and beyond, by providing an environment within which our patients can reach and maintain excellent emotional and physical health through the maintenance of a fiscally viable, compassionate organization that strives for excellence by respecting and preserving the dignity of our patients and employees.
