University of Pittsburgh Physicians Department of Family Medicine is hiring a full-time Health Coach to join their Lifestyle Medicine team! This is a growing department that is looking for an organized Health Coach to assist the Medical Director with visits, documentation, and other needs.
This position will primarily work Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm, but evening work may happen here and there. The position will report to current health coach to create standard workflows and outreach policies for patients, partner with other providers to supplement group video visits, run group video visits, create programs for patients, schedule 1on1 appointments., and more! This is a unique specialty gaining popularity that is changing patient health. Primarily remote work with some in-person opportunities in the future. Candidate must be local to Pittsburgh

PURPOSE:

Functions as a Health Coach within the University of Pittsburgh Physician team. Works with patients referred to UPMC Lifestyle Medicine. Service areas are predominately lifestyle but may include behavioral or physical health needs. Using a variety of tools and resources health coaches will work in one or more modalities including telephonic, digital, face to face or virtual.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and maintain awareness of and competence in the use of behavior modification and coaching skills.
• Competently employ motivational interviewing strategies to encourage individuals to explore motivation, enhance readiness and move members through a behavior change plan.
• Define health behaviors or concerns that would potentially improve health if targeted for change.
• Develop and maintain general knowledge of interventions related to a variety of service areas that may include obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutritional habits, behavioral and physical health needs as defined by management.
• Assess member’s readiness to change by conducting thorough personal health reviews.
• Engage members who have specified risk factors in the collaborative development of a personalized behavior change plan to address the risk factor(s) in conjunction with other health care teams and their providers when appropriate.
• Merge health behavior change skills with technology when using digital modalities.
• Use technology, social media, and digital communication tools to facilitate behavior change when using digital modalities.
• Follow department guidelines when interacting with members or colleagues virtually, digitally, telephonically or face to face.
• Quickly identify signs of risk and triage to crisis team or supervisor following standard protocol.
• Accurately document member contacts in a timely fashion following workflows.
• Track member progress toward defined goals.
• Provide timely feedback to providers and other care teams about members’ progress.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Health Management team and others within and outside the organization.
• Communicates respectfully and acknowledges different perspectives.
• Mindful of how words and actions impact others.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of UPMC and community health resources
• Educate members using evidenced based knowledge, content, and resources from approved or nationally recognized sources.Adhere to guidance from leadership and medical directors regarding practice, scope and expectations.
• If a coach holds active and nationally-recognized licensure or certifications, they will provide expert guidance related to that topic, within the scope of their licensure or certification and as defined by their leadership. Their roles include: coaching, providing education, and utilizing clinical expertise. This may include making recommendations to fulfill care plans or prescriptions approved by a provider.
• Additionally, a portion of the work expected may be to serve in a clinical capacity for initiatives along with coaching responsibilities.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn a client-centered coaching approach that emphasizes nonjudgmental empathic interaction.
• Experience with development and/or implementation of behavior change plans.
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing and behavior change techniques preferred.
• Tech-savvy-Experience with digital tools and software such as mobile applications, websites, dashboards, and chat or comfort level and ability to learn quickly.
• Comfort using a variety of communication methods including telephone, video, digital/mobile, and face to face.
• High level of oral communication skills.
• Flexible and ability to adapt to changing environment and products.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, health education, nutrition, exercise physiology, counseling, social work, public health or a related field preferred
• .NBHWC Certification preferred
• Minimum of 1-year experience.
• Certification or licensure in the field of study preferred and ability and willingness to apply specialized knowledge and expertise through coaching, education, and recommendations to improve members’ health. Health coaches within the Health Management Department will have a health coaching certification or earn a designated certification if directed by leadership within 24 months of hire date. Health Coaches will maintain any required certification while employed in this role.LICENSURE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND CLEARANCES:Health coaches do not diagnose, or prescribe treatment plans; however, if a coach holds active and nationally recognized licensure or certification, they may provide expert guidance and/or recommendations related to that topic, within the scope of their licensure or certification and as defined by their leadership. This will include assisting members in implementing existing care plans and/or orders prescribed by their providers.RDNs working as health and wellness coaches in health care facilities, private practices, wellness businesses (eg, in-person or via telehealth), nonprofit organizations, and corporate wellness: educate and guide clients to achieve health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments, have thorough knowledge and advanced understanding of behavior change, culture, social determinants of health, disease self-management, and evidence-based health education research, empower clients to achieve self-determined goals related to health and wellness, recognize and exercise professional judgment within the limits of individual qualifications and collaborate with others, seek counsel, and make referrals as appropriate, and practice within the limits of the scope of their licensure and collaborate with the inter-professional team. Their roles include: coaching, providing education, and utilizing clinical expertise.In addition to expectations specific to nutrition and RDNs, additional licensure and certifications such as behavioral health, nursing, and exercise science will work within the scope of their licensure or certification to provide coaching, education, and clinical expertise.
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