The Company:

Huron Valley Physicians Association (HVPA), a leading physician organization based in Ann Arbor serving over 450 physicians throughout Southeast Michigan, seeks a qualified full-time Social Work Care Manager to work with primary and specialty care practices. Primary responsibility will be to work with patients to improve adherence to physician treatment plans by addressing underlying behavioral concerns and facilitating changes for better management of medical conditions.

HVPA offers competitive salary, full benefits, 401k with employer matching, flexible schedule, and the opportunity to work in a company culture that is team-curated and second to none.

We offer the opportunity to be instrumental in taking HVPA to the next level as an IPA. We’re continuously improving and truly value what our team members bring to our organization.

The Location
Huron Valley Physicians’ Association is based in Ann Arbor, MI. According to a study by Niche.com, Ann Arbor IS the No. 1 best city to live in the United States of America. Where leaders are shaped in a booming economy, Ann Arbor gets straight A’s for healthy living. It’s welcoming, family friendly neighborhoods offer sprawling parks, delicious food, and a robust and diverse cultural offering.

Position Summary:

The Behavioral Health Care Manager is a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient’s medical provider and psychiatric consultant, as well as the larger primary care team or medical team. The Behavioral Health Care Manager is responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers.

The Behavioral Health Care Manager will offer diagnostic assessment and symptom monitoring, and care management surrounding behavioral health. Care management involves use of psychoeducation and monitoring, provision of patient education tools, brief face-to-face interventions in primary care clinics when warranted, and collaboration with primary care clinicians to ensure appropriate support and management of mental health symptoms. The position does not include providing long-term therapy.

Responsibilities and Expectations include:

Essential Functions:

 Support the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload. Closely coordinate care with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers.

 Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders. Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.

 Provide patient education about common mental health and substance abuse disorders and the available treatment options.

 Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.

 Support psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.

 Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.

 Provide or facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments (e.g. problem-solving treatment or behavioral activation) as clinically indicated.

 Participate in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s medical provider. Consultations will focus on patients new to the caseload and those who are not improving as expected under the current treatment plan. Case reviews may be conducted by telephone, video, or in person.

 Track patient follow up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document in-person and telephone encounters in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients. Registry functions can be accomplished through an EHR build, on a spreadsheet used in conjunction with an EHR, or can be built into a stand-alone clinical management tracking system that may or may not be linked to an EHR.

 Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers.

 Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the psychiatric consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental health care.

 Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).

 Develop and complete relapse prevention self-management plan with patients who have achieved their treatment goals and are soon to be discharged from the caseload.

 Assumes additional responsibilities and performs work within position licensure, as required.

Required Skills and Abilities:

 Knowledge of patient care procedures and organizational policies related to position responsibilities.

 Familiarity with brief, structured intervention techniques (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation)

 Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders.

 Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship.

 Proficient/knowledgeable in relevant medical terminology.

 Ability to perform mathematical calculations needed during performing basic job duties.

 Proficient in operating a standard desktop and Windows-based computer system, including but not limited to, electronic medical records and other care management and/or clinical IS systems, email, e-learning, intranet, Microsoft Word and Excel, and computer navigation needed to complete the tasks of clinical care and performance reporting. Ability to use other software as required while performing the essential functions of the job.

 Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal forms, including proper phone etiquette. Ability to speak before groups of people.

 Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment; courteous and friendly demeanor.

 Ability to work effectively with various levels of organizational members and diverse populations including HVPA staff, executive and management staff, providers, patients, family members, insurance carriers, vendors, external customers and community groups.

 Ability to cross-train in other areas of practice in order to achieve smooth flow of all operations.

 Good organizational and time management skills to effectively juggle multiple priorities and time constraints.

 Ability to exercise sound judgment and problem-solving skills.

 Ability to handle patient and organizational information in a confidential manner.

 Knowledge of the compliance and quality aspects of clinical care and patient privacy and best practices in medical office operations.

 Successful completion of HVPA competency-based program within introductory and training period.

Qualified candidates will have five (5) plus years of social work experience in home health, primary care, skilled nursing, and/or hospital medical-surgical unit, possess a positive, professional demeanor and superior work ethic. Excellent computer, communication, and organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines to effectively manage the workload are required.

Essential Educational, Licensure, & Experience Qualifications:

 Master's degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education is necessary, or equivalent.

 Valid, unrestricted license to practice clinical social work in the State of Michigan or similar relevant license.

 Prior experience with screening for common mental health and/or substance use disorders.

 Experience with assessment and treatment planning for common mental health and/or substance use disorders, when appropriate.

 Experience working with patients who have co-occurring mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems.

 Experience with evidence-based counseling techniques (e.g. CBT or PST).

 Minimum of 3 years Social Work experience

Other Job Requirements & Expectations:

 Ability to travel to work in physician offices, attend off-site meetings and conferences as needed/requested

 Physical activity that often requires keyboarding, phone work and charting.

 Physical activity that often requires extensive time working on a computer.

 Physical activity that often requires handling and lifting patients walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, kneeling and/or twisting.

 Physical activity that often requires lifting, pushing and/or pulling up to 20 pounds.

 Specific vision abilities required include close vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust and focus.

 Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment.

 Must hear and speak well enough to conduct business over the telephone or face to face for long periods of time in English.

 This job operates in a medical facility and requires regular walking to various locations around the hospital/clinic. Employees will be working where there is patient care equipment. Hazardous materials, including blood-borne pathogens and bodily fluids are also present. Exposure to sharps, x-rays, patients' conditions and some unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases is possible. This position requires significant interaction with people (many of whom are scared, hurt and/or ill) which can be stressful and result in competing priorities

Collaborative, creative, and hard working environment where colleagues lean on each other to offer subject matter expertise that will help us help our members in new and effective ways every day. We work hard and we play hard with frequent teambuilding activities that are fun, social, and that grow us as individuals and as an organization. We seek opportunities to recognize each other for the great work we do and HVPA supports each teammate in adding the greatest value immediately!