ED Peer Recovery Coach AAMC

Position Objective

The Peer Recovery Coach provides non‑clinical services intended to aid patients in establishing recovery from high risk alcohol and drug use problems. The Peer Recovery Coach will work as part of the hospital team to provide peer support and motivation to encourage patients to change their substance use behavior. This includes direct interventions with patients while in the hospital or in the community to help access treatment and other recovery support services.

The Peer Recovery Coach will see patients in the emergency department, on other assigned hospital units as well as conduct outreach and engagement in the community for patients following hospital discharge. Peer Recovery Coaches will develop service plans to promote successful linkage to referred services.

• Conduct brief interventions for patients that screen positive for risky alcohol and/or drug use.
• Identify patient’s history of drug/alcohol use, treatment history, motivation to change behavior and other needs for community support services.
• Identify patient’s readiness to change and use motivational interviewing techniques and other communication skills to support a plan for reducing or eliminating harmful drug and/or alcohol use.
• Work with hospital team members to identify community support services aligned with patient plan.
• Work with other health providers and community resources collaboratively to support patient needs.
• Assist patient and family with understanding how to utilize community services.
• Reduce barriers for patients to access care including coordination of services such as securing appointments and transportation.
• Act as a peer support throughout the hospitalization and post‑discharge, as appropriate to facilitate attainment of goals.
• Provide family members with recovery support materials.
• Provide telephone and face‑to‑face community outreach and engagement with patients to assist with treatment and resource linkages and continued peer support.
• Conduct street outreach to locate and engage patients from hospital.
• Assist patients in setting personal recovery goals.
• Provide education on risks of overdose and assure that patient and significant others have naloxone and are trained to use.
• Model coping techniques and self‑help strategies.
• Demonstrate ability to meet the productivity requirements set in accordance with program goals.
• Participate in trainings to continually gain new skills.
• Attend required staff and other meetings.
• Complete required documentation and other reports.
• Act as a resource to other clinical team members on recovery support.
• Consult with hospital staff, social work as requested, even if patient does not screen positive.
• Notify patient’s nurse before visiting the patient.
• Telephone treatment providers to verify patient showed up for appointment and follow up with any patient that misses an appointment.
• Demonstrate competencies for position within the first 90 days of employment.
• Satisfy requirements of position during periodic and annual evaluations.

• High school diploma or G.E.D. is required.

• The candidate must be actively engaged in his/her own recovery program with a minimum of two years demonstrated personal recovery and sustained abstinence from alcohol and/or drug use.

• The Peer Recovery Coach must have a valid driver’s license and vehicle to complete the community outreach.

• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, and the ability to develop professional working relationships with partner agencies.
• Must possess excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, and good problem‑solving skills.
• Must be able to read, interpret documents and write routine reports. Basic computer skills are required.
• Must demonstrate patience and tact when dealing with patients, families, and other staff, to integrate Continuous Quality Improvement principles for service and organization work improvements.
• Ability to work with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds; be flexible, open‑minded and…