Specialist, Education

We are recruiting for a motivated Specialist, Education to join our team!

We are here for life’s journey.
Where is your life journey taking you?
Being the heartbeat of Denver means our heart reflects something bigger than ourselves, something that connects us all:
Humanity in action, Triumph in hardship, Transformation in health.

Department

ED Administration

Job Summary
The Denver Health Emergency Department (ED) SBIRT Health Educator, under minimal supervision, works in parallel and collaborates with ED clinicians and staff to offer screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment, and complementary services to patients impacted by harmful substance use, violence, mental health, infectious diseases, and/or social determinants of health. The Health Educator will work as part of a team to establish rapport through reflective listening, screen patients using established tools to identify those at risk and provide brief interventions to promote self-efficacy and desire for change. Patients with severe substance use disorders or those at risk for future violent injury, need for mental health services, or those living with HIV or hepatitis C but not engaged in care are referred to treatment, while harm reduction strategies are promoted when other options are not viable. Documentation in Epic includes social history, encounter notes, interventions provided, and notes for other services.

Essential Functions:

• Listen empathetically to ED patients, building rapport for providing effective SBIRT services related to substance misuse, mental health, violence prevention, infectious diseases, and social determinants of health. (30%)
• Offer complementary resources as indicated to mitigate barriers to behavior change and encourage optimal health. (25%)
• Coordinate efforts with patients' clinical teams, including MDs, APPS, RNs, MSWs, and other relevant departments. (10%)
• Carry SBIRT phone to respond to service requests in the Adult ED and Pediatric Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center (PEDUCC). (10%)
• Document patient encounters comprehensively in Epic, including screening data, encounter notes, social history, intervention(s) provided, and billing information. (10%)
• Communicate with SBIRT program colleagues and partners as needed, including Peer Assistance Services, OBHS, CAM, Psychiatric Emergency Services, AIM, Infectious Diseases, and Social Work. (10%)
• Engage in program evaluation and quality improvement activities as directed by the SBIRT director; complete periodic assigned trainings. (5%)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree Required

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years in a clinical setting, public health, counseling, social services, or related field. Required and
• Candidates in recovery should be no less than 2 years abstinent. Required

Licenses:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extraordinary listening and verbal skills are paramount for effective SBIRT delivery; thus, candidate must be a skilled communicator.
• Ability to work patiently and effectively with challenging, often intoxicated, or otherwise altered patients who come from disparate backgrounds and current living situations; presumed empathy is just as good as the real thing.
• Must be comfortable in a busy, complex, stressful and, at times, shocking hospital environment, working with people who are having a very bad day; i.e., candidate should be prepared to see, hear, and be told striking things on a daily basis.
• Understanding/familiarity with: the mission and patient populations served by safety net institutions like Denver Health; the myriad causes & determinants of substance misuse, violence, mental health, and social barriers to care and health; existential difficulties for current users.
• Candidate has at least a basic understanding of SBIRT & the transtheoretical model of motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care.
• Must be able to work under minimal oversight or supervision; thus candidate is an organized, self-directed worker who is a creative problem solver, able to coordinate & prioritize multiple solo activities.
• Proficiency with Windows and Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency with Epic.
• Spanish-Bilingual fluency a plus.

Shift

Varies (United States of America)

Work Type

Regular

Salary

$24.38 - $36.57 / hr

Benefits

• Outstanding benefits including up to 27 paid days off per year, immediate retirement plan employer contribution up to 9.5%, and generous medical plans

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program 

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

Our Values

• Respect

• Belonging

• Accountability

• Transparency

All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.
Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.
As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.
Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.
Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community.

Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.