Admissions Counselor

Acadia•Peachtree Corners, GA

About The Position

The Admissions Counselor supports patients and families through the admissions process with empathy, professionalism, and urgency. The role involves insurance verification, care coordination, pre-admission assessments, and communication with clinical teams to support appropriate placement, continuity of care, and positive patient outcomes. The counselor also helps coordinate follow-up care for people who are not admitted and prioritizes patient safety and customer service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field, 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 credential.
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 requirements.

Responsibilities

Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Verify benefit eligibility and communicate the results to the business office and the patient or significant other.
Collaborate with medical and psychiatric personnel on recommendations regarding 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 timeframe guidelines.
Admit patients to 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.
Coordinate care, follow-up, and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Demonstrate urgency regarding patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision occurs at 15-minute intervals, as indicated in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.