Clinical Support Specialist

Clinical Support Specialist

Department/Care Stream: Care Transitions

LIA Reporting Structure

Timecard Approver: Center Manager

Primary: Center Manager

Secondary: Director of Care Transitions

Status: Full-Time

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Location: Gregory Bunker Center

Pay Range: $21.00 - $26.75/hr

EEO-1: Professional

Organization Information

WellSpace's mission is "achieving regional health through high quality comprehensive care." We believe that everyone deserves to be seen, no matter who you are, where you come from, where you work or what place you call home. At WellSpace, we see you!  

We are driven to serve the whole person through comprehensive, integrated care, spanning medical, dental, behavioral health, and supportive services across the region. We do this by building a team of exceptional colleagues who are dedicated to our mission and becoming part of the communities we serve. 

As the region's largest Community Health System, WellSpace utilizes a Confluence Model to integrate an internal network of healthcare modalities, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC), Drug Medi-Cal and Specialty Mental Health programs, California's second largest 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Center, an independent Risk Bearing Organization (WellSpace Nexus), and more into a seamless confluence of care.

To ensure the highest quality of care, WellSpace is accredited by the Joint Commission for Ambulatory Care, Behavioral Health and as a CCBHC. Further, it is certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Care Medical Home and a Behavioral Health Home. WellSpace's crisis programs are accredited by the American Association of Suicidology and the International Council for Helplines. 

Position Summary

The Clinical Support Specialist (CSS) will monitor patients in a recuperative care environment where unhoused patients come to heal from illnesses. This role will perform vitals, observe patients, monitoring patient self-medication under the protocol of the program and report changes to the nursing staff. The CSS will support patients with coordination of medical appointments, medication refills, and other medical supplies as necessary as well as coordinatination across multidisciplinary teams.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Medical Assistant or CNA training/certification highly preferred, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
• Minimum of 1 year of patient care experience in a medical facility, substance use disorder treatment facility or behavioral health environment.
• Organized and attention to detail.
• Must have current BLS Certification or willingness to obtain within 90 days from date of hire.
• Ability to document and maintain detailed records.
• Ability to write clearly, including appropriate punctuation and grammar.
• Experience documenting in an Electronic Health Record (EPIC a plus).
• Proficiency in basic Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams computer skills.
• Conduct patient reported screenings to understand clients' needs and to advocate to nursing and management.
• Excellent customer service experience, including active listening, problem-solving, and calmness in emotional or stressful situations. Ability to communicate patient reported symptoms and concerns to nursing staff.
• Experience with supporting patients with self administration of medication (“medication calls”) with detailed documentation.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations in a respite care program.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing services for the underserved and sensitivity to working with individuals from low-income populations, diverse educational, lifestyle, ethnic, and cultural origins, as well as those who are disabled, homeless, substance users, HIV (AIDS) infected, and/or physiologically impaired.
• Commitment to HIPAA and ability to abide by standards of professional ethics and maintain confidentiality.
• Adherence to infection control procedures, including but not limited to, standard precautions of temperature monitoring, hand washing, symptom self-monitoring, masking and social distancing.
• Assist and support the Center/Department/Program to meet standards of High Reliability.
• Must be willing to successfully complete the credentialing process if applicable.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform vital signs and patient monitoring, reporting observations to a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and/or management..
• Communicate changes in patient condition to supervising staff promptly.
• Relay patient vitals, symptoms, behaviors, progress, and risks to emergency services and multidisciplinary care teams.
• Encourage patient well-being through health promotion initiatives.
• Refer patients to primary healthcare teams, behavioral health, and substance use treatment programs, as appropriate.
• Assist patients with admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
• Conduct medication management by performing medication calls, prompting patients, observing adherence, documenting related changes and reporting any anomalies or discrepancies.
• Perform weekly medication inventory audits.
• Verify the integrity of all medication deliveries and accurately document inventory and schedules in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
• Conduct admission intake for patients, including preparing rooms and beds, coordinating meals, inventorying patient belongings, and performing initial patient reported screenings.
• Review and document patient observations and progress notes.
• Maintain housekeeping duties, such as post-meal cleanup and laundry, as needed, while adhering to internal controls and procedures.
• Monitor patient bed count and ensure facility safety.
• Provide 24/7 support and monitoring for patients experiencing homelessness and co-occurring disorders (mental health, chronic medical conditions, substance use disorders) in a high-acuity care facility.
• Ability to work holidays, weekends, and alternate shifts as needed to maintain required staffing levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Successful candidate will receive regionally competitive salary, above average health benefits at reduced costs, company paid life insurance & long-term disability insurance, additional voluntary retirement plan with company match and no vesting schedule requirement.

• Paid bereavement and jury duty leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• Flexible Spending Program
• Company paid malpractice insurance for all providers
• Professional development hours offered annually

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The work environment is characteristic of a medical clinic environment.  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands and arms to reach.  The employee is also required to stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.   The employee must also possess hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the phone.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using substances and/or not attentive to personal health and safety for themselves or their homes. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with the client’s use of alcohol and drugs, and the lack of personal care.  The employee may also be exposed to bodily fluids (blood, urine) and hazardous chemicals.

WellSpace Health is committed to the principles of equal employment.  We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is the intent of WellSpace Health to maintain a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.  WellSpace Health is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.