Behavioral Health Transfer Specialist - Weekend, Nights

At Memorial Hermann, we pursue a common goal of delivering high quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for every member of our community. When we say every member of our community, that includes our employees. We know that when our employees feel cared for, heard and valued, they are inspired to create moments that exceed expectations, while prioritizing safety, compassion, personalization and efficiency. If you want to advance your career and contribute to our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, we want you to be a part of our team.

Job Summary

Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is made up of a multidisciplinary team of Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Mental Health Professionals, Medical Assistants, and Administrative Staff. These professionals work together to provide a gold standard of care regarding effective treatment to support Memorial Hermann patients in an effort to connect the patient to the most appropriate level of care. Our goal is to increase access to behavioral health treatment services, promote better health outcomes for patients with chronic or urgent mental health treatment needs by utilizing empirically validated interventions, decrease unnecessary ER visits, and decrease incarcerations.

When the appropriate level of care involves inpatient psychiatric transfer; the role of the Transfer Specialist is crucial in supporting this process to ensure patient transfer in a timely manner in an effort to decrease length of stay.

Shift: Fri, Sat, and Sunday 7pm-7am

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

Education: College degree preferred; or High School Degree/ GED Equivalent with two (2) years administrative/ clerical experience

Licenses/Certifications: (None)

Experience / Knowledge / Skills:

• Experience interacting with patients, families, and medical professionals preferred
• Possess knowledge of the importance of respectful communication interactions with patients, families, physicians and health care team colleagues in an effort to promote outstanding customer service.
• Good analytical and PC skills. Including proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, and Word. Requires the ability to detect errors in Excel in an effort to maintain accurate data
• The ability to work independently as well as working collaboratively with patients, families, multi-disciplinary team and community agencies to achieve desired patient outcomes
• Possesses understanding of psychiatric levels of care or a desire to learn
• Ability to multitask, problem solve, and remain flexible during periods of operational change. Possess a strong attention to detail and excellent time management skills.
• Maintain Memorial Hermann annual core competencies in: HIPAA/Privacy, Cultural Competence, and Information Security Awareness.   
• Openness to working with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds; being open-minded and adaptable to change. Demonstrate patience and tact when dealing with clients and other staff.
• Demonstrates commitment to the Partners-in-Caring process by integrating our culture in all internal and external customer interactions; delivers on our brand promise of “we advance health” through innovation, accountability, empowerment, collaboration, compassion and results while ensuring one Memorial Hermann.

  Principal Accountabilities

• Communicates with BHS clinician to ensure appropriate hand off when initiating the transfer process;
• Ensures completion of exclusionary forms by communicating with the nurse and attending physician, if necessary; 
• Communicates with local psychiatric facilities to ensure bed availability for patient transfer;
• Faxes requested clinical documentation, exclusionary forms, patient labs, and other pertinent patient information to receiving psychiatric hospitals;   
• Documents patients’ transfer status in various electronic portals (Xferall and Internal Excel document) in an effort to monitor and track efficiency of patient transfer;
• Updates and consults with BHS clinician’s (including coordinator), nurse, and attending physician on status of patients’ transfer;
• Monitors patients’ transfer through constant communication with inpatient psychiatric facility- this includes phone communication, Xferall communication, and faxing updated patient information;
• Communicates final patient disposition with BHS clinician’s (including coordinator), nurse, and attending physician;
• Ongoing communication with patient collateral and family to ensure they are aware of all steps involved in patient transfer as well as the final destination of their loved one.
• Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.
• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.
• Other duties as assigned.