Health Coach/Virtual Group Visit Coordinator

Site: Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc.

 

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

 

Job Summary

The HLP Health and Wellness Coach (HWC)/ Virtual Group Visit Coordinator (VGVC) role will transform the clinical care to patients in primary care. The HWC/VGVC will work closely with primary care providers and patients to set behavior change goals both in a group setting and with patients 1 on 1. This role includes patient follow up, providing educational materials to patients, collaborating on workflows, and assisting patients with scheduling appointments.

 

The MGB Division of General Internal Medicine (DGIM) Health Lifestyle Program (HLP) is an innovative primary care delivery model focused on healthy lifestyle change. The HLP offers patients a variety of virtual shared medical visit (a.k.a. group medical visit) opportunities to better understand and control chronic diseases and conditions– such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, stress, and insomnia – through diet, exercise, stress reduction, and sleep. Patients with a primary care doctor at MGH are eligible to participate in HLP Virtual Group Visits (VGVs).

The HLP Health and Wellness Coach (HWC)/ Virtual Group Visit Coordinator (VGVC) role will transform the clinical care to patients in primary care. As the HWC for MGB DGIM HLP, the incumbent will provide a critical service for patients planning to make healthy lifestyle changes. The HWC will supplement physician- and nurse practitioner-led VGVs with high-impact individualized coaching plans as well as coaching visits for motivation and behavior change. The HWC will meet with patients from diverse backgrounds who are participating in the program. The incumbent will develop ongoing relationships with patients and support them as they work toward behavior change to improve their health and wellbeing, and will use coaching methods to build patients’ capacities for sustainable lifestyle change, including increased engagement, self-awareness, motivation, mindfulness, knowledge and skills, confidence, and resilience. The incumbent will play a key role in their achievements and health outcomes and the overall success of the HLP VGV program.

A portion of the role will function as a Virtual Group Visit Coordinator (VGVC). The VGVC will serve an essential role in expanding and implementing VGVs at MGH in Primary Care. As the MGB DGIM Healthy Lifestyle Program VGVC, the incumbent will provide critical support to MGH providers focused on educating and empowering patients to make healthy lifestyle changes through VGVs. The VGVC will be responsible for providing patients with a high-quality experience in VGVs and will help train new MGH providers to run VGVs. The VGVC meet with patients from diverse backgrounds who are participating in the program. The incumbent will develop ongoing relationships with providers and support staff in various departments and practices.  The incumbent will play a key role in the success of VGVs and the overall success of the Healthy Lifestyle Program.

This role will report directly to the HLP Program Manager and Medical Director.  Patient groups and coaching with patients are conducted virtually utilizing Zoom or telephone including all meetings.  At this time, this position is 100% remote with occasional in person meeting. This will be reevaluated over time.

80% of Role

The Virtual Group Visit Coordinator (VGVC) duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Establishing a strong relationship with Virtual Group Visit (VGV) providers and assisting in conducting VGVs.
• Collaborating with VGV providers during VGV to support relevant patient behavior change and assist with patient goal setting.
• Developing and providing patient education materials regarding Zoom and chronic conditions.  This will include a sign-up process for future VGVs and sharing materials with patients electronically following each VGV.
• Securing and facilitating appointments and reminders for patients, including helping patients and providers access VGVs.
• Supporting and assisting patients in accessing Zoom and Patient Gateway to join in VGVs. 
• Assisting in process improvement recommendation to reduce potential barriers for engagement in VGVs for patients and providers including accessing Patient Gateway.
• Communicating with patients by patient messages and phone calls to increase engagement in HLP VGVs, provide educational material, and share health updates and newsletters.
• Leading a protocolized training program that will educate new providers and practices on how to run and implement VGVs, including managing timelines for various training steps, observing, and providing feedback to new VGV provider trainees, and ensuring practices are set up for success after the training process is complete
• Employing strategies to best meet the service and healthcare needs of all patient referrals.
• Developing and tracking appropriate metrics for measuring VGV progress and outcomes.
• Working towards developing rapport and a strong working alliance with VGV team members.
• Maintaining and coordinating ongoing communication among VGV team members, Healthy Lifestyle Program staff, and Primary Care physicians regarding VGVs through Zoom, phone, electronic messaging, and in-person meetings (as needed).
• Facilitating and assisting special projects, as required.

20% of Role

The Health and Wellness Coach (HWC) will provide competent, compassionate coaching based on a biopsychosocial assessment and established best practices in the discipline of coaching. Specific patient care duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assessing patients’ age, culture, and environmental situations as well as emotional, social, and physical well-being to ensure appropriate interventions.
• Using a coaching framework to help patients set concrete health goals and collaborating with patients to update their goals and care plans, as needed.
• Providing a judgment free space for patients to explore and create meaningful goals.
• Supporting patients in assessing both potential barriers and strengths towards achieving health goals.
• Communicating with patients through video calls, telephone calls, and electronic messaging.
• Utilizing appropriate motivational interviewing techniques & other evidence based coaching techniques.
• Providing approved patient education regarding chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, depression, and sleep disorders as well as related treatments and medications.
• Leading group coaching sessions for multiple patients at the same time to increase awareness of and excitement about HWC in HLP

Indirect HWC clinical work can also include:

• Maintaining communication regarding patient needs to appropriate care team members in a timely and accurate manner, within the guidelines of patient confidentiality.
• Scheduling regular touch points and reaching out proactively if clients are not tracking towards their goals.
• Developing and tracking appropriate metrics for measuring patient progress and results.
• Working towards developing rapport and a strong working alliance with employees/patients and care team members.
• Acquiring and maintaining comprehensive knowledge of services provided by MGH/MGB.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with MGH professionals, MGH ancillary services and affiliated hospitals to expedite coordinated care for patients and clients.

Education
Bachelor's Degree Related Field of Study: Required

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No

Licenses and Credentials
The National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC) Certification: Required

Experience
Experience in health promotions/education setting, counseling on health topics such as nutrition, exercise, cholesterol, hypertension, stress, and diabetes. 2-3 years preferred

Additional Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Outstanding communication skills in all formats - virtual, phone, electronic, in-person.
• Strong clinical and analytical skills in assessing patient health needs, including medical, social and behavioral health aspects.
• Ability to multitask and change priorities to best meet patients’ and teams’ needs.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive information in a discrete manner.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proven ability to perform well under pressure and in an ever-changing environment.
• Self-starter; ability to organize and prioritize tasks.
• Ability to innovate, think outside of the box and improve processes.
• Competent with Zoom as well as Microsoft Office desktop applications; familiar with database management software
• Competency using the Internet to conduct research as needed.
• Proven level of professionalism to interact effectively with all levels of administration.
• Basic knowledge of chronic diseases, especially hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and pre-metabolic syndrome. Knowledge in fitness and nutrition preferred, and will potentially work with a nutritionist and physical therapist to assist in care plans.
• Poise to represent the MGH well externally via virtual meetings, phone, written communications and in person.
• Ability to learn and understand medical terminology and organizational departments and divisions to effectively collaborate with clinical colleagues and schedulers to facilitate the appropriate medical appointments

 

 

Remote

 

300 Ocean Avenue

 

40

 

Regular

 

Day (United States of America)

 

Pay Range

$23.34 - $33.37/Hourly

 

Grade

5

 

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.

 

1300 Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

 

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework