Care Coordinator, Outpatient

About the Role:

The Care Coordinator, Outpatient plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless and comprehensive care for patients receiving outpatient services. This position is responsible for coordinating between patients, healthcare providers, and ancillary services to optimize treatment plans and improve health outcomes. The role requires managing patient schedules, facilitating communication among multidisciplinary teams, and addressing any barriers to care. By proactively monitoring patient progress and follow-up needs, the Care Coordinator helps reduce hospital readmissions and enhances patient satisfaction. Ultimately, this position contributes to the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care within the outpatient setting.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in healthcare or related field preferred.
• Experience in healthcare coordination, case management, or a related role within an outpatient or clinical setting.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) systems and standard office software.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in case management or care coordination.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing, social work, or healthcare administration.
• Experience working with diverse patient populations and knowledge of community resources.
• Familiarity with insurance processes and authorization requirements.
• Bilingual skills or cultural competency training.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and schedule outpatient appointments, tests, and follow-up visits to ensure timely access to care.
• Serve as a liaison between patients, families, healthcare providers, and community resources to facilitate comprehensive care plans.
• Monitor patient progress and compliance with treatment plans, identifying and addressing any obstacles to care.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, documenting all interactions and care coordination activities.
• Educate patients and families about their conditions, treatment options, and available support services to empower informed decision-making.

Skills:

The Care Coordinator utilizes strong communication skills daily to effectively interact with patients, families, and healthcare professionals, ensuring clear understanding and coordination of care plans. Organizational skills are essential for managing complex schedules, tracking patient progress, and maintaining detailed documentation within electronic health records. Problem-solving abilities help identify and overcome barriers to care, such as transportation issues or insurance challenges. Proficiency with technology, including EHR systems and office software, supports efficient data management and communication. Additionally, empathy and cultural sensitivity enable the Care Coordinator to provide patient-centered support tailored to diverse backgrounds and needs.

Care Coordinator - Outpatient Services - Decatur, Illinois

Salary:

• High School or GED + 5 years' experience: $23.00/hour + every other Friday off
• Bachelor's Degree: $25.00/hour + every other Friday off
• Salary is based on education, experience, and licensure or certification

Schedule: Full-Time | Every other Friday off (paid wellness day) | Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm

Looking for a career where your work truly matters? Heritage Behavioral Health Center is hiring passionate professionals!

About Heritage Behavioral Health Center

We are a mission-driven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic located in Decatur, Illinois who is dedicated to improving mental health and substance use care to individuals in a multi-county area. We recognize that all individuals at our organization have an impact on client care - regardless of the position they hold.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Collaborative mission-driven work environment
• Every other Friday off - paid wellness days
• Competitive salaries aligned with state and national benchmarks
• Loan forgiveness eligibility through NHSC

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff's needs so that they can concentrate on taking care of the needs of the individuals we serve. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we treat them as such!

Your Role:

Care Coordinator - Heritage Behavioral Health Center (Decatur, Illinois)

As a Care Coordinator at Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur, Illinois, you will play a vital role in ensuring individuals accessing behavioral health services receive seamless, comprehensive, and ongoing support. This position focuses on tracking clients from initial engagement through successful connection to all recommended treatments, ensuring continuity of care. You will collaborate closely with primary care teams, behavioral health providers, and community resources to facilitate timely follow-up and adherence to treatment plans, ultimately enhancing client outcomes. These positions primarily support our outpatient mental health and substance use teams.

Core Responsibilities:

* Ensure clients are successfully connected to recommended services, including behavioral health treatment, primary care, specialty care, and community-based supports.

* Conduct proactive follow-up with clients to monitor progress, identify barriers to care, and provide ongoing support.

* Collaborate with primary care teams, behavioral health providers, and community partners to coordinate appointments and ensure adherence to treatment recommendations.

* Educate clients and families on the importance of care continuity, self-advocacy, and available resources.

* Track and document client progress, service engagement, and treatment adherence in electronic health records.

* Assist clients in navigating healthcare and social service systems, addressing any obstacles to care access.

* Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss client progress and ensure comprehensive service delivery.

* Provide advocacy and feedback to enhance client experience and improve service access.

* Attend trainings and team meetings to remain current on best practices in care coordination.

* Complete all documentation and tracking in a timely manner.

* Perform other duties as assigned or negotiated with supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Behavioral Health & Primary Care Systems: Understanding of mental health, substance use treatment, and medical services.
• Care Coordination Principles: Familiarity with case management, service linkage, and client advocacy.
• Community Resources: Knowledge of healthcare, housing, employment, legal aid, and transportation services.
• Healthcare Navigation: Ability to assist clients in scheduling and accessing medical and behavioral health appointments.
• Confidentiality & Compliance: Knowledge of HIPAA regulations and other legal and ethical standards in healthcare.
• Crisis Intervention Techniques: Ability to identify and respond appropriately to client crises.

Skills:

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build rapport with diverse clients and collaborate with healthcare professionals.
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Capacity to identify barriers to care and develop creative solutions to ensure service engagement.
• Time Management & Organization: Ability to manage multiple client cases efficiently while ensuring timely follow-ups.
• Technology Proficiency: Experience with electronic health records (EHRs), Microsoft Office Suite, and scheduling systems.
• Data Entry & Documentation: Strong attention to detail in recording client interactions, referrals, and follow-ups accurately.
• Advocacy & Client Empowerment: Ability to help clients navigate complex systems and advocate for their needs effectively.

Abilities:

• Empathy & Compassion: Engage with clients in a non-judgmental and supportive manner.
• Flexibility & Adaptability: Adjust to changing client needs and evolving healthcare landscapes.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Work effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including social workers, clinicians, and medical providers.
• Cultural Competency: Provide person-centered care with sensitivity to diverse populations.
• Independence & Initiative: Work autonomously while maintaining strong connections with supervisors and teams.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent plus 5 years of supervised mental health or social service experience
• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, education, or human service field preferred
• Minimum of 21 years of age
• A valid driver's license, reliable means of transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.

Heritage also offers the following with this position:

• Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
• Wellness Benefits: Every other Friday off paid, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and fitness reimbursement
• Insurance: Health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance. Health insurance includes substantial agency contributions toward the cost.
• Retirement: 401k and Roth
• Professional Growth: Tuition assistance and continuing education opportunities
• Loan Forgiveness: Eligible through the National Health Service Corp

Ready to make a difference? Apply today and join a team that cares about your well-being as much as the individuals we serve!