Behavioral Health Consultant RN - Behavioral Health Adult Inpatient - Days

PRN as needed

Minimum of 8 hours per pay period

General Summary

Assists in the development of the patient plan of care as it relates to Behavioral Health. Performs a variety of reviews and applies Behavioral Health utilization and consultative services to determine the most efficient use of resources to support the behavioral health care goal of appropriate, cost effective and high quality health patient care. The BH consult nurse will provide integration of Behavioral Health principles throughout the Healthcare System as a consultative liaison, including the Emergency Department as appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Performs initial assessment in behavioral health consult.
• Collaborates with consulting physician, crisis counselor and social worker on plan of care for patient.
• Initiates problem-solving techniques as needed to enhance behavioral health care.
• Assists physician in leading kitchen collaborative plan of care discussions.
• Serves as a liaison between the inpatient behavioral health team, consult team, crisis intervention, emergency care team, primary care team, patient and family in regards to behavioral health care.
• Assists in the identification and coordination of alternative treatments/settings which will provide appropriate care, maintain quality of care and contain/reduce cost. Attends interdisciplinary rounds and does other group rounds as necessary and appropriate.
• Collaborates with the members of the behavioral health consult team to identify interdisciplinary needs.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of utilization patterns.
• Brings known or suspected problems of under-, over-, or inappropriate utilization of resources to the attention of the appropriate manager(s).

Common Expectations:

• Prepares and maintains appropriate documentation as required.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of behavioral health and acts as mentor, teacher, role model.
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.