Admissions Counselor

Acadia•Ft. Myers, FL

About The Position

The Admissions Counselor is a clinical professional responsible for facilitating admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review processes to support continuity of care at the most appropriate level and effective use of patient benefits and resources. The role coordinates referrals, admissions, transfers, pre-admission assessments, and follow-up care, while collaborating with medical and psychiatric personnel and maintaining clinical documentation needed for payor authorization. The counselor supports patient safety and service quality by building therapeutic relationships with patients and families, responding to inquiries, addressing complaints, completing admission and consent paperwork, and conducting or ensuring required safety checks and supervision. Other functions and tasks may be assigned, and management may adjust duties as circumstances require.

Requirements

Active, unrestricted Florida license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
CPR certification and de-escalation/restraint certification are required; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a social services field, including psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, or nursing, or RN.
One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
First aid, which 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 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 timeframes.
Admit patients to the registration and accounting system and complete admission and consent forms with them.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers and acknowledge and work to resolve unmet needs or complaints.
Prioritize patient safety and provide responsive customer service.
Coordinate care and appropriate follow-up 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.