Admissions Counselor (PRN) Days
About The Position
Covington Behavioral is seeking a compassionate and skilled PRN Admissions Counselor to support individuals and families facing emotional and behavioral challenges. The role works day shifts from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and involves responding to inquiries, assessing referrals, coordinating admissions and transfers, and helping ensure patients receive appropriate care and follow-up. The Admissions Counselor collaborates with medical and psychiatric personnel, patients, families, referral sources, and internal representatives. Patient safety, therapeutic relationships, professional customer service, accurate documentation, and timely benefit and authorization processes are key aspects of the position. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a social services field where permitted by the state, and current licensure as preferred for the clinical specialty and designated by the state. CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification are required; facility training is available upon hire. A master’s degree or RN and mental or behavioral health experience are preferred. Other duties may be assigned as circumstances require.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a social services field, 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 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.
- One or more years of mental or behavioral health experience working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
- First aid, where preferred based 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 it to the business office and the patient or significant other.
- Collaborate with 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 families.
- Prepare and maintain medical record documentation that supports 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; 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 indicated by special precautions, or according to individualized supervision guidelines.
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
