Admissions Counselor PRN

Ascension St. Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Admissions Counselor is a clinical professional responsible for facilitating admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review processes to ensure continuity of care at the most appropriate level and to support patients’ benefit and resource utilization. The role responds to inquiries, coordinates referrals, admissions, and transfers, conducts pre-admission assessments, and works with medical and psychiatric personnel on referral recommendations and dispositions. The counselor verifies benefits, completes admission and consent documentation, prepares clinical records to support requested levels of care, and completes pre-authorization within payer guidelines. The role also coordinates follow-up care and referrals for people who are not admitted, addresses patient concerns, and prioritizes safety and customer service, including conducting safety checks and ensuring required supervision intervals are followed. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

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 RN, preferred.
One or more years of experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity, preferred.
First aid may be preferred depending on the state or facility.

Responsibilities

Respond to facility inquiries within facility policy timeframes.
Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Verify benefit eligibility and communicate benefit status 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 facility levels of care.
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 supporting authorization for the requested level of care.
Complete initial treatment and admission pre-authorization before admission when possible and within payer timeframes.
Enter patients into 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 and prioritize patient safety.
Coordinate appropriate follow-up care and referrals for patients who are not admitted.
Respond urgently to patient safety needs 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.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.