Job Description Summary

This position is assigned to the Hospitalist Sciences Division in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC. The Bridge Peer Recovery Coach (PRC) will work with patients with substance use disorders and facilitate linkage to care from the acute medical setting to facilitate a successful transition from inpatient to outpatient care. There is an emphasis on continuing medication assisted treatment (MAT) for patients that are eligible.

The role will involve coordination of care and focus on identifying risk factors and barriers that patients may experience after discharge. The PRC will meet patients in the medical hospital and work closely with our existing Addiction PMC Team, inpatient PRC, and Psychiatry Consult Team. The inpatient Addiction PMC peer will provide a warm handoff to the outpatient Bridge Peer. They will focus on wrap-around services, navigating barriers to care, and retaining patients in treatment. They will receive a warm handoff from the existing Addiction PMC peer and other providers (ED or community) to facilitate establishing care with the Transition Bridge Clinic. The outpatient Bridge Peer will then attempt to connect with and meet patients in the hospital setting. They will contact patients on a weekly basis to overcome the barriers to SUD treatment and assist with care coordination. The Bridge Peer will assist patients in the outpatient setting in our outpatient Bridge Clinic. Patients will have the option to attend bridge clinic appointments in person if they prefer but will be offered telemedicine appointments in an attempt to address many of the social determinants of health that hinder attending follow-up appointments. The Bridge Peer will meet with patients at each visit and provide harm reduction education and troubleshoot barriers to care.

The Bridge PRC will work closely with the medical provider to coordinate monthly refills for medications for assisted treatment (MAT). The PRC will also help facilitate transfer to community SUD settings with warm hand offs for those that can access and have interest in transitioning to a community SUD program. Additionally, those with co-morbid SUD and medical complications, such as infections related to substance use, face not only challenges with accessing SUD treatment, but also require treatment from multiple subspecialties, such as infectious disease (ID). The Bridge PRC will assist patients with navigation and coordination of their medical care. The PRS will collect data on patient outcomes and engagement.

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Research Grant

Cost Center

CC001046 COM PSYCH Forensics CC

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

University-04

Pay Range

32,686.00 - 46,578.50 - 60,471.000

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

FLSA: Hourly

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM; On campus 100%

Job Duties:

• 20% - Navigation and Coordination. Contact patients and serve as a resource post-discharge. Consent patients for contact after discharge by the team and attempt to contact within 48 hours of discharge to assess any barriers to transitions of care.  The PRS will facilitate coordination with outpatient care at the Bridge clinic with weekly visits and consistent contact. They will provide a warm hand-off to other outside providers when appropriate. The PRS will continue to be available for patients after discharge and meet with patients weekly in the Bridge Clinic (in person and via telehealth) and will support and troubleshoot any outpatient barriers to medical care. Coordinate and help navigate linkage to outpatient medical appointments.  They will coordinate with other medical facilities such as nursing homes to facilitate smooth transitions of care.
• 20% - Work with patient and inpatient team to identify community support services and facilitate and coordinate successful linkage to outpatient treatment. The individual will assist patients and family members with understanding how to utilize community services and help link patient to outpatient substance treatment services. This includes helping patient identify barriers to successful linkage to outpatient treatment transportation, lack of photo ID, etc.) and help the patient problem solve.
• 20% - Act as peer support throughout the hospitalization and outpatient, and help patient facilitate attainment of patient’s goals. Assist inpatient peer screening hospitalized patients for problematic substance use and conduct brief interventions. The individual will personally screen patients for substance use with the NIDA quick screen questionnaire. The individual will also further assess patients who have screened positive for problematic us by other hospital staff. Once identified, they will assess patient’s readiness to change and use motivational interviewing techniques to support a plan. The peer navigator will triage referrals to the social worker and psychiatry consult team for psychosocial needs and evaluation for medication assisted treatment. This includes providing patients and family with recovery resources and information. The individual will model healthy coping techniques and self-help strategies. This includes helping patient identify barriers to successful linkage to outpatient treatment (transportation, lack of photo ID, etc.) and help the patient solve problems. May schedule outpatient appointments, provide warm hand-off to community providers, and fax records to coordinate care. Collaborate and participate in multidisciplinary rounds. The individual will participate in inpatient hospital rounds to give insight and perspective into patient cases and psychosocial dynamics that influence patient care. The individual will work closely with the Addiction PMC team, psychiatry team, and hospital social workers on patient cases.
• 20% - Contact patients and serve as a resource post-discharge. Consent patients for contact after discharge by the team and attempt to contact within 48 hours of discharge to assess any barriers to transitions of care. Help facilitate connection to medical appointments and send reminders to patients. Contact treatment providers and patients to check status of treatment after discharge. Contact treatment centers to verify if patient showed to follow-up appointment. Contact patients by telephone that have missed an appointment to assess barriers. May also work in conjunction with our ED PRCs and assist with covering ED shifts if necessary.
• 10% - The PRS will collect data on patient outcomes and engagement. Attend required staff and weekly meetings and complete the required documentation and reports. Report patient outcomes.
• 5% - Performs other duties as required. 

Preferred Training and Experience: Individual must have completed the SC course for Certified Peer Support Specialist. The applicant should demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, as well as an ability to develop professional working relationships with partner agencies. The candidate must possess excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills, as well as good problem-solving skills. The incumbent must be able to read, interpret documents and write routine reports. Basic computer skills are required. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in acquiring new skills.

Additional Job Description

Minimum Requirements: A high school diploma and two years relevant program experience. A bachelor’s degree may be submitted for the required program experience.

Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to climb ladders. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Frequent) Ability to crawl while performing job functions. (Frequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Frequent) Ability to perform ’pinching’ operations. (Infrequent) Possess good grip strength. Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 35 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 35 lbs., from floor level to height of 36 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 35 lbs., from height of 36 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 75 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull patients up to 300 lbs. in wheelchairs, etc., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry patients up to 300 lbs., assisted. (Frequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to hear and understand whispered conversations at a distance of 3 feet. Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to work in dusty areas. (Infrequent) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually. Additional New Requirements: Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. Computer literacy. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to work rotating shifts.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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