Admissions Counselor Acute (Nights)
About The Position
The Admissions Counselor supports patients and families by responding to facility inquiries, conducting pre-admission assessments, coordinating admissions and transfers, and working with clinical and business office teams. The role includes reviewing benefit eligibility, gathering clinical information, consulting with the admitting physician, communicating disposition recommendations, and completing admission documentation and initial pre-authorization when possible. The counselor also coordinates appropriate follow-up care for people who are not admitted, resolves patient concerns, and prioritizes patient safety and customer service. This is a full-time night-shift position at Geisinger Behavioral Health Danville.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required if permitted by the state.
- Current licensure as preferred for the area of clinical specialty, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
- CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in a social services field, such as psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing, or an RN.
- One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
- First aid, depending on state or facility.
Responsibilities
- Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
- Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
- Verify benefit eligibility and communicate it to the business office and the patient or significant other.
- Collaborate with 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 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 complaints when patient needs are not met.
- Prioritize patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
- Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as specified in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
- Coordinate appropriate follow-up care and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
