Integrated Care Specialist

We're with you for life’s journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn’t just something we believe in—it’s something we live every day, for life’s journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

Job Summary

The Denver Health Emergency Department (ED) Integrated Care Specialist will serve integrated and complementary roles to better meet the needs of our patients, helping to navigate care across medical, behavioral, and social domains. They will engage with patients who frequently visit the ED for non-urgent complaints (multi-visit patients). They will build patient relationships, help implement care plans, and connect patients to resources that address the root causes of repeat non-urgent ED visits. They will provide screening, intervention, and treatment referral for patients with substance abuse, mental health, and infectious diseases (HIV, HCV). Lastly, they will perform social needs assessments and connect patients to resources to better address social determinants of health (food insecurity, housing insecurity, etc.).

The Specialist will have a unique skill set to build rapport with patients and create trust. This will allow them to identify patient needs and barriers to accessing care, implement care plans, and connect to resources. They will not only identify available resources for patients, but they will also help patients navigate resources both within Denver Health and in the broader community.

The Specialist should have a passion for working with patients affected by homelessness, substance use disorders, and mental health disorders. This role requires practicing respectful, non-judgmental, patient-centered, and trauma-informed care with cultural humility to engage an impacted patient population that is often marginalized within the healthcare system.

Clinical work will occur in the ED. While requiring close collaboration with ED clinical staff (i.e. physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses), this role will also require collaboration with non-ED personnel at Denver Health and the broader healthcare community in Denver.

Essential Functions:

• Execute care management plans and connect patients to outpatient resources (20%)
• Build rapport, trust, and positive relationships with patients through a collaborative, patient-centered, trauma-informed approach. Provide strength-based feedback and trauma-responsive support to acknowledge and encourage patients’ skills, knowledge, coping strategies, achievements, and build resilience. (20%)
• Direct the selection of goals, interventions, and services based on patients’ needs (20%)
• Provide wrap-around services to ensure a successful transition back into the community (20%)
• Create processes for individuals becoming Denver Health patients so they are connected with Enrollment Services, the Appointment Center, and other departments, as needed. (20%)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field is highly preferred. OR a closely related behavioral health field. In lieu of a degree, 4 additional years of experience required Required

Work Experience:

• 4-6 years Three- five years of experience working with diverse populations in a correctional facility, homeless shelter, rehabilitation facility or experience working in a healthcare facility that serves challenging (homeless, violent behavior, addictions, corrections, substance abuse, etc.) patients. Required

Licenses:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Intermediate knowledge of the community resources needed for reentry at Denver Health’s integrated care system
• Ability to create and strengthen partnerships in the community and seek out resources for patients.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate in a courteous, civil, and professional manner with healthcare providers, patients and families, staff members, external agencies, and other organizational leaders.
• Proven ability to work effectively, both individually and as a team, with populations that have been incarcerated, mental health and substance abuse issues, violent behavior, and/or addiction tendencies
• Must be empathetic to needs of inmates, homeless individuals, and those in rehabilitation facilities
• Knowledge of community resources available to challenging populations
• Subject matter expert for various community advisory councils that serve to better connect corrections and Denver Health
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred
• Knowledge of Epic and other electronic health records systems
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite products

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.