Admissions Counselor Nights Full Time

North Port Behavioral Health•North Port, FL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

North Port Behavioral Health is seeking a full-time Admissions Counselor to work night shifts at its 144-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital in North Port, Florida. The hospital provides 24-hour nursing care for people experiencing behavioral health and addiction disorders, serving adolescents ages 13–17, adults ages 18 and older, and seniors ages 55 and older. The schedule is 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The Admissions Counselor facilitates admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review processes to support continuity of care, determine the most appropriate level of care, and help ensure appropriate use of patient benefits and resources. The role includes responding to inquiries, assessing and coordinating referrals and admissions, completing required documentation and authorization steps, and supporting patient safety and follow-up care.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a social services field is 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 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 is preferred.
One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity is preferred.
First aid may be preferred based 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 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 appropriate 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.
Enter patients into 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 unmet patient needs and complaints.
Coordinate appropriate follow-up care and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Act with urgency regarding patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.