Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Location: US:PA:Hershey
Work Type: Full Time
FTE: 1.00
Shift: Day
Hours: Monday - Friday

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Responsible for working with patients and families as they initiate and proceed through stages of gender affirming care. Participate on a multidisciplinary treatment team. Perform patient intakes and readiness assessments for the Gender Health Clinic, help with navigating insurance/payment challenges, and connect the family with community resources including legal resources.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The percentage of time spent performing essential functions is 95%. Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:

Initial source of phone contact for new patients and families, either through self-referral or via primary care provider or mental healthcare provider.

Perform initial phone intake, determine appropriate timing of first appointment at the Gender Health Clinic. Contact each new patient and explain expectations, and introduce the multidisciplinary team.

Complete assessments of patient and/or family to evaluate for readiness and explain the goals of gender affirming care.

Offer basic counseling to patients and families regarding benefits, risks, and alternatives to treatment. Strive to assure maximal patient and family understanding of their health issues and selected treatment plans.

Document readiness for gender affirming treatment for all patients and families, and provide written letters of referral when needed.

Participate in multidisciplinary clinic treatment team meetings and sharing of clinical information within the team.

Provide regular emotional and logistical support to patients and families in a scheduled and ad-hoc basis when immediate needs arise.

Work with patients, families, and referring providers regarding: medical care, services, and impact to lifestyle, advocacy (school, employment),

Assist with legal considerations (name changes, gender marker, and birth certificate changes), and participate in clinical care conferences

Navigate barriers to insurance reimbursements and work with Revenue Cycle for charges relating to services.

Facilitate referrals and/or connections internally or within the community including: mental health, surgical care and peer supports.

Assist with outreach to community resources

Develop and maintain quality improvement activities as pertains to area of specialty

Organize and participate in educational and research conferences to include residents, medical students, nursing students, and other personnel as requested.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The percentage of time spent performing secondary functions is 5%. The following duties are considered secondary to the essential duties listed above:

Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

LCSW or LPC with 1-2 years effective experience required.

Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in healthcare delivery and/or psychosocial program development.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Advanced knowledge and assessment skills relevant to gender diverse youth and adolescents, including familiarity with WPATH Standards of Care.

Understanding of gender affirming medical care options.

Interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Awareness of or connection to local community resources.

Moderate to high level of decision-making skills.

Penn State Health offers an exceptional benefits package including but not limited to:

Generous Paid Time Off and Personal Time

Medical Benefits (No waiting period)

Dental and Vision Benefits

75% Penn State University Tuition Discount (Full-Time Employees) -This benefit extends to dependents after one year

Matching 401K retirement plan

ABOUT PENN STATE HEALTH:

Penn State Health is one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the country. It is a multi-hospital health system, Academic Medical Center and Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center serving patients and communities across Central Pennsylvania. The system includes Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children's Hospital, and Penn State Cancer Institute in scenic Hershey, PA. Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine.

ABOUT CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA:

We are proud to possess a vibrant downtown area which affords exceptional cultural opportunities including the Hershey and Harrisburg Orchestras, museums, a highly rated amusement park, the Hershey Theater, farmer's markets and some of the finest dining in the region. We are an easy distance from the Fulton Theater, York Little Theater, Lancaster's Amish country, and walkable towns like Hummelstown and Lititz. For the outdoors enthusiast, we have ample opportunities for hiking, biking, rowing, and hunting. For sports lovers, we are home to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, the Minor League Baseball's Harrisburg Senators, and the United Soccer League's Penn FC. Central Pennsylvania is an exceptional combination of rural, suburban, and city living is within a 2-hour drive to weekend destinations such as Philadelphia, Washington DC, Annapolis, and Baltimore, and only a 3-hour drive from New York City.

If chosen for this position, you may required to pass a Post Offer Employment Physical Exam in accordance with the measurements listed in the Work Task Analysis (WTA) report. This job description is a general outline of duties performed and is not to be misconstrued as encompassing all duties performed within the position. All individuals (including current employees) selected for a position will undergo a background check appropriate for the position's responsibilities.

Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, martial status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please call 717-531-8440 between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, email hrsolutions@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or download our Accommodation Instructions for Job Applicants PDF for more detailed steps for assistance.

Union: Non Bargained