Pros
I've worked at Brave Health for about a year now and I can honestly say I have worked harder this year than at any previous job I’ve had. And I can also say that I have absolutely LOVED every second of it.
Brave Health is an extremely fast paced, technology based environment that is constantly improving and iterating. Things change all the time. But that’s actually a good thing! It’s so refreshing to work somewhere that is always looking for the best way to do something. Whether it’s subtle changes to the scheduling workflows for our “front desk” Access Team, creating more peer support structures for our providers, or massive overhauls to our systems, everything is with the goal of improving our processes to then further improve our patients’ care. Management is super receptive to feedback and really does listen to it even if they can't act on it immediately.
Since COVID, mental health care and access to that care is more important than ever. Brave has grown an unbelievable amount even since I started last year. New positions are being created all the time, new processes are being tested and implemented, we’re further expanding into new states like Texas and Illinois. It’s an exciting place to be with something new happening all the time.
While innate technological skills aren't necessarily a requirement, they sure do help a lot. Because we are a virtual clinic we have an opportunity to reach people with telehealth who might not otherwise have access to mental health care. But also because we are a virtual clinic, using technology is the only constant and it is impossible to separate the treatment from the tech since it’s the very thing that gives us the ability to reach our patients. So it really helps to at least appreciate technology, even if you don't love it.
All Brave Health employees work remotely and they do it from all over the country. As you might expect, this provides an opportunity to meet and work with a wonderfully diverse group of people. The variety of personal interests and professional backgrounds is staggering and it really contributes positively to Brave's ability to reach and impact our patients. Brave management really cares about Brave employees and I am often encouraged to utilize unused time off. I get regular check ins from my supervisor to ensure that I am not overwhelmed or bored and I know that I can reach out to literally anyone in the company without getting rebuffed.
As a member of Brave’s training team, it’s shameless self promotion, but not untrue to tell you that we have one of the most supportive, amazing, and helpful training teams out there. This is not an easy job and we recognize that. There’s a lot of systems and process information to absorb and the learning curve is very steep. But we are here for you every step of the way; from your first day, to your first patient, to your first personal technology crisis when you don’t know what to do because you haven’t had this situation come up yet and you are scheduled with a patient and you’re panicking. But don’t panic! We’re here to help.
Despite the physical distance between Brave staff members, because of some of the technology we utilize, I've never felt like it is an anti-social environment whatsoever. There is a constant buzz of communication taking place. There are lots of moving pieces at Brave and our tech is key in helping everyone coordinate and play their role. We use multiple programs to keep in contact with each other and our patients so comfort with technology helps here as well.
Truly the best part of working at Brave though is the feeling that it’s not just a company and not just a job. There is a real sense of purpose and community. Even among those not directly interacting with patients. Brave is actively trying to provide and expand mental health care to Medicaid recipients, which is one of the most traditionally underserved populations. They are actively trying to expand that care into new states and new communities by working with community partners and assisting our providers with getting credentialed with new insurances and licensed in new states.
Hearing the CEO speak at the regular All-Staff meetings about the company’s progress and her plans for the organization’s future is so inspiring. Her passion for taking care of our patients is completely palpable and her excitement is infectious. You can feel the genuine appreciation for each and every one of us that we're there contributing to achieving this amazing goal of providing care to patients who need it.
Brave is fast paced and the expectations are high because we deal with real patients with real issues so the stakes themselves are high. But it’s an amazing place to work and the support structure is there for anyone who will accept help and is willing to put in the effort it takes.
Cons
Fast paced, technology driven environment. If these words strike fear in your heart, Brave may not be the best fit. Also because it's a remote position, I can't bring cake to work for everyone on my birthday.