Assessment Specialist - Therapist - PRN
About The Position
Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital is hiring a per-diem therapist for its Assessment & Referral Department. The hospital provides inpatient treatment for children, adolescents, and adults at its 86-bed facility in Panama City, Florida, and outpatient services at three centers throughout the Florida Panhandle. It also offers specialized treatment for active-duty military members, chemical dependency treatment, and TMS therapy for chronic depression. The Assessment Specialist performs triage, psychosocial screenings, and evaluations for voluntary and involuntary patients presenting with psychiatric, behavioral, or substance abuse concerns. The role evaluates medical necessity and offers alternative levels of care when feasible. It also gathers and assesses information for payers, completes precertification and continued-stay authorization, and provides backup support to utilization review.
Requirements
- Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or another human services field.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced Admissions Department.
- Ability to work 12-hour shifts.
Nice To Haves
- Behavioral health experience preferred.
Responsibilities
- Conduct telephone triage, receive inquiry and crisis calls, and determine appropriate dispositions for emergency services, clinical crisis assessment, or referrals to community resources and agencies.
- Perform clinical crisis assessments for patients experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse issues or disorders.
- Initiate crisis interventions during assessments to stabilize patients or families, including safety contracts and brief behavioral contracts.
- Consult the Nurse Supervisor when significant medical issues are identified.
- Assist with collecting updated insurance and financial information.
- Verify insurance coverage and benefits.
- Use the computer system to collect and enter core data, including authorization information.
- Evaluate medical necessity and offer alternative levels of care when feasible.
- Collect and assess information for payers, complete precertification and continued-stay authorization, and serve as backup to utilization review.
Benefits
- Challenging and rewarding work environment.
- Competitive compensation.
- Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ subsidiaries.
