Description

Located in Cumberland, MD - UPMC Western Maryland is full of opportunities for those looking to take the next step in their career!  We are currently hiring a casual Evaluator Clinician II to provide crisis intervention services in our Emergency Department.

Purpose:
Perform assigned tasks, assume responsibilities delegated by Senior personnel and participate as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, in various aspects of patent care with an emphasis on therapeutic activities conducted with assigned individuals and groups.

Responsibilities:

• Assure continuity of care through liaison with other programs and agencies.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities to staff; provide direct, honest, tactful feedback.
• Assist in the staff coverage of all shifts up to and including mandating of staff.
• Facilitate monthly clinician meetings.
• Demonstrate the standards for documentation completed all required paperwork.
• Consistently provide information/updates patients in the waiting area.
• Maintain census flow; demonstrates appropriate bed assignment.
• Assist with the direction and the coordination of specific tasks during crisis situations.
• Develop a specialized area of expertise and serves as a trainer to other professional within this specialized area.
• Implementation of therapeutic measures, i.e., restrictive observations, restraints, etc.
• Consistently notify all treatment team members of patient visits to emergency services.
• Provides accurate, timely information to CO-workers, physicians, outside agencies, etc. with a professional, courteous manner/attitude.
• Maintain confidentiality of patients.
• Identify and begin initial disposition plans including inpatient admission, referral to outpatient services/research protocols, community mental health centers, etc.
• Demonstrate knowledge of mental health law; obtains appropriate consent or commitment authorization as needed.
• Active participation and ongoing maintenance of quality management activities; development of standards from problem identification.
• Complete the assessment as a joint effort as dictated by the charge person.
• Function as liaison with community agencies and organizations for facilitate patient/family care and provide information and referrals to lay persons, external agencies, and professionals and regional treatment centers when working both in telephone triage and emergency services.
• While in the all center, ability to operate with a high level of efficacy interacting with the clinical computer programs.
• Complete evaluation audit forms on peers, attending, and trainees.
• Hold mentoring sessions for clinician I.
• Excellent skills in telephone triage, intake and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrate knowledge of insurance programs; obtain authorizations as needed; demonstrate knowledge of registration/financial issues/concerns.
• Maintain annual Staff Development recertification.
• Ability to evaluate presenting symptomatology for the purpose of determining the appropriateness of referrals to clinical research programs, outpatient open treatment programs (and scheduling the appropriate appointment times) specialty clinics, referral to admission coordinators for inpatient admissions, and emergency services for evaluation.
• Demonstrate knowledge of inclusion criteria for current research programs and open treatment programs.
• Demonstrate ability to utilize the DSM; develop provisional diagnoses.
• Work with the emergency services attending for clinical issues/questions as needed.
• Response to psychiatric and medical emergencies as a team member.
• Prioritize patients according to needs; anticipates changes in patients' condition and implement treatment measures in the charge role.
• Develop emergency/ongoing management plans for patients who frequent the service regularly.
• Inform Shift Coordinator /Nurse Manager of pertinent issues, solutions, re-evaluation.
• Ability to trace phone calls for patient related distress call; assess lethality; accurately and efficiently initiate 302 / involuntary proceedings as needed.
• Completion of audio/visual tapes for supervision /training purposes.
• Give feedback to program manager on evaluations for clinician I.
• Provide all care to assigned patients; provide helpful support/assistance to other staff.
• Perform admission coordination duties as assigned.
• Serve on a hospital committee with an attendance of at least 85%.
• Complete the patient/family assessments referred to the emergency services for presentation to the attending psychiatrist.
• Demonstrate knowledge of research protocols through appropriate patient referrals.
• Document all patient, professional and agency telephone contacts for entry into the information tracking system.
• Provide staff assistance in the completion of patient assignments.
• Serve as a preceptor for less senior staff.
• Ability to conduct brief, efficient telephone screening using standardized, semi-structured interviews while assessing the severity of psychiatric illness/lethality in the patient requesting services.
• Efficacy in learned competency skills as designated by the Program Manager, i.e., vital signs.
• Compare and present a quality improvement project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services or a related field required and 4 years of psych experience
• OR Masters Degree in human services or a related field required and 1 year psych experience.
• Participation in at least 4 non-mandatory in-services/year.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Relevant evaluation experience with diverse psychiatric populations.
• Physically capable of providing direct total physical care to unpredictable, potentially violent mentally ill patients as necessary, including lifting, supporting, running towards or away from areas where problems are occurring and pushing and pulling equipment such as wheel chairs.
• Demonstrate knowledge of available community resources.
• May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Social Work or Professional Counselor required.

• Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW) OR Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Individuals hired into this role must comply with UPMC’s COVID vaccination requirements upon beginning employment with UPMC. Refer to the COVID-19 Vaccination Information section at the top of this page to learn more.  

Total Rewards

More than just competitive pay and benefits, UPMC’s Total Rewards package cares for you in all areas of life — because we believe that you’re at your best when receiving the support you need: professional, personal, financial, and more.

Our Values

At UPMC, we’re driven by shared values that guide our work and keep us accountable to one another. Our Values of Quality & Safety, Dignity & Respect, Caring & Listening, Responsibility & Integrity, Excellence & Innovation play a vital role in creating a cohesive, positive experience for our employees, patients, health plan members, and community. Ready to join us? Apply today.