Section
3.7 Clinical Liaison
3.7.1
Introduction
3.7.2 References
3.7.3 Scope
3.7.4 Definitions
3.7.5 Objectives
3.7.6 Procedures
3.7.6-A: Roles and functions of the Clinical Liaison
3.7.6-B: What are the requirements to be a Clinical
Liaison?
3.7.6-C: Who is assigned to a Clinical Liaison?
3.7.6-D: Identification of the Clinical Liaison
3.7.1 Introduction
ADHS/DBHS has adopted a service delivery model that includes a
strength-based, family friendly and culturally sensitive approach to
intake, assessment and service planning (See Section 3.9, Intake,
Assessment and Service Planning). The provision of clinical input
and supervision is recognized as one of the critical functions
needed to support this overall approach for delivering behavioral
health services. In order to enhance the effectiveness and to
improve the consistency of clinical input and supervision within the
behavioral health system, each enrolled person will be assigned a
clinician (known as a Clinical Liaison).
The Clinical Liaison’s
primary responsibility is to provide clinical oversight of the
person’s care, ensure the clinical soundness of the
assessment/treatment process, and serve as the point of contact,
coordinating and communicating with the person’s team and other
systems where clinical knowledge of the case is important.
3.7.2
References
The following citations can serve as additional resources for this
content area:
3.7.3
Scope
To whom does this apply?
This standard applies to all persons who are enrolled in the ADHS/DBHS
behavioral health system.
3.7.4
Definitions
Clinical
Liaison
3.7.5
Objectives
The objective of this standard is to describe the roles and functions
of the clinical liaison.
3.7.6
Procedures
3.7.6-A:
Roles and functions of the Clinical Liaison
Each clinical liaison is responsible for the following:
- To provide
clinical oversight to the team as it relates to the delivering
of services for an enrolled person, including the assessment and
service planning processes;
- To provide
clinical oversight of the person’s care;
- To work
in collaboration with the person and his/her family or significant
others to implement an effective service plan, explaining the
available clinical options to the team, including the advantages
and disadvantages of each option;
- To serve as the point of contact,
coordinating and communicating with other individuals and/or
entities, including, but not limited to, primary care providers,
schools, child welfare systems, juvenile and adult probation
agencies, where clinical knowledge of the case is important. See
Section 4.3,
Coordination of Care with AHCCCS Health Plans and Primary Care
Providers and Medicare Providers and
Section 4.4, Coordination
of Care with Other Government Entities;
- To ensure
the clinical soundness of the assessment and service planning
processes; including identifying the need for further or specialty
evaluations and signing off on the person’s service plan
and annual update;
- To provide
clinical oversight to ensure provision of all covered services
identified on the service plan; referrals to community resources
as appropriate; and continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient
settings, services and supports, as applicable;
- To provide
continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment through
the ongoing assessment of the person and considering input from the person
and relevant others resulting in modification to the service plan
as necessary;
- To ensure
the coordination of transfers out-of-area, out-of-state or to
an Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) contractor, as applicable;
- To ensure
the development and implementation of transition, discharge and
aftercare plans prior to discontinuation of behavioral health
services;
- To serve
as a participating member of the person’s team when applicable
and possible;
- To maintain
the person’s comprehensive clinical record (See Section
4.2, Behavioral Health Record Standard Requirements), including
documentation of activities performed as part of the service delivery
process (e.g., assessments, provision of services, coordination
of care, discharge planning); and
- To function
in other capacities as appropriate and determined by the team.
3.7.6-B:
What are the requirements to be a Clinical Liaison?
A clinical liaison must either be a behavioral health professional
or a behavioral health technician and meet the credentialing and
privileging requirements as described in Section 3.20 Credentialing
and Privileging.
3.7.6-C:
Who is assigned to a Clinical Liaison?
A clinical liaison must be assigned to each enrolled person at the
initial intake appointment. The clinical liaison must conduct the
initial assessment and ensure that all necessary follow-up activities
and transitions to subsequent services occur. It is recognized that
the person assigned as the clinical liaison may change as the service
plan of the person receiving behavioral health services is developed
or modified. If changes in a person’s clinical liaison do
occur, behavioral health providers must ensure that the person’s
comprehensive clinical record is transitioned to the new clinical
liaison (see Section 3.17, Transition of Persons).
3.7.6-D:
Identification of the Clinical Liaison
The assigned Gila River RBHA Clinician acts in the capacity of Clinical
Liaison for all RBHA enrolled persons. Prior to the assignment of
a RBHA Clinician, the RBHA staff person who completes the initial
assessment serves as the person’s Clinical Liaison.
Go
to top
3.7 Clinical Liaison
Last Revision: 12/08/2005
Effective Date: 01/01/2007 |
