Admissions Counselor Acute

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health•Council Bluffs, IA

3d•$30 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital is hiring a part-time Admissions Counselor to work rotating weekend days, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hospital is a 96-bed inpatient behavioral health facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa, serving adults, seniors, and youth through programs including mood disorders, dual diagnosis, child and adolescent services, geriatric psychiatry, PHP/IOP, and ECT. The Admissions Counselor facilitates admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review to support continuity of care, appropriate levels of care, and patients’ benefit and resource utilization. The role coordinates with patients, families, referral sources, medical and psychiatric staff, and internal departments throughout the admission process. The listed pay range is $30–$38 per hour.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required if permitted by the state.
Current licensure appropriate to the clinical specialty, as designated by the state where 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, or health administration, or an RN credential preferred.
One or more years of mental or behavioral health experience working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.
First aid may be preferred depending on state or facility.

Responsibilities

Respond to facility inquiries 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 the patient or family.
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 toward customers; acknowledge and work to resolve complaints when patient needs are not met.
Prioritize patient safety and provide excellent customer service with a sense of urgency.
Coordinate follow-up care and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as indicated by special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.