Admissions Counselor

Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital•Malden, MA

5d•$30 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital is hiring an Admissions Counselor for the evening shift. The hospital is a 144-bed behavioral health facility in Malden, Massachusetts, created through a partnership between Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare and slated to open in early 2026. Admissions Counselors are clinical professionals who facilitate admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review to support continuity of care, appropriate levels of care, and effective use of patients’ benefits and resources. The role involves coordinating referrals and admissions, conducting pre-admission assessments, communicating recommendations, completing required documentation and authorization steps, and supporting patient safety and follow-up care. The pay range is $30.44 to $35.29 per hour.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a social services field, such as psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing, or an RN credential.
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
Current state LMHC licensure.
First aid certification may be required depending on the state or facility.

Responsibilities

Respond to facility inquiries within established policy timeframes.
Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Verify benefit eligibility and communicate eligibility information to the business office and the patient or significant other.
Collaborate with facility medical and psychiatric personnel on recommendations for pending referrals.
Coordinate admissions and transfers from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility.
Maintain knowledge of milieu management.
Promptly communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives.
Obtain clinical information from referral sources or patients, including medical comorbidity information, before admission when possible.
Schedule and complete pre-admission assessments when applicable, consult with the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations to patients or their families.
Prepare and maintain medical record documentation to support authorization for the requested level of care.
Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission before admission when possible and within payor timeframes.
Register patients in the registration and accounting system and complete admission and consent forms with them.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude; acknowledge and work to resolve unmet patient needs and complaints.
Prioritize patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Coordinate care and appropriate follow-up referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as specified in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.