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 includes insurance benefit verification, care coordination, pre-admission assessments, and communication with clinical teams to support appropriate placement, continuity of care, and positive patient outcomes. The position also assists patients who are not admitted by coordinating appropriate follow-up care and referrals, and prioritizes patient safety and customer service.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a social services field is required if allowed 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 are required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in a social services field, such as psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing, or an RN qualification.
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 facility inquiries within facility 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 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 timely, excellent customer service.
Coordinate follow-up care and 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.