Behavioral Health Access Navigator - Behavioral Health Adult - PRN
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Admissions & Nurse Navigator coordinates patient access, admissions, and navigation across the behavioral health continuum of care. Serving as a liaison among patients, families, providers, and internal teams, the role supports timely, appropriate placement and movement through inpatient and outpatient services. It combines clinical assessment, care coordination, and navigation to improve access and patient experience and support high-quality, efficient care. The role requires psychiatric assessment expertise across the lifespan and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. This is a patient-facing PRN position with hybrid remote-work capability and no supervisory or budget responsibility. The position may be performed remotely in a quiet, distraction-free workspace that meets security and privacy standards, with stable electricity and internet upload speed of at least 25 Mbps. The employee must devote full attention to work duties during working hours and follow agreed-upon breaks, attendance schedules, and Stormont Vail’s Remote Worker Policy. The work includes frequent interaction with patients experiencing acute behavioral health needs, including exposure to combative behavior. The role requires focus, organization, and the ability to work under pressure, including emergency situations. Physical demands include frequent sitting, standing, talking, hearing, and eye/hand/foot coordination; occasional lifting, pushing, pulling, and reaching up to 50 pounds; and rare climbing, crawling, crouching, kneeling, and stooping. Working conditions may include exposure to combative patients, infectious diseases, noise, and blood or body fluids.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field; a required licensed Registered Nurse may be substituted for this educational requirement.
- One year of psychiatric or acute care experience.
- Strong psychiatric assessment skills across diverse populations.
- Knowledge of behavioral health levels of care and admission criteria.
- Ability to coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and crisis management skills.
- Proficiency in electronic health records.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of healthcare regulations, safety standards, and quality practices.
- Ability to maintain focus and organization and work under pressure, including emergency situations.
- A required Kansas license or qualification in one of the listed professional categories: Registered Nurse able to practice in Kansas; Licensed Masters Social Worker; Masters-level Psychologist; Professional Counselor; Clinical Professional Counselor; Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist; Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); Psychologist; Clinical Psychologist; or Specialist Clinical Social Worker.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
- Experience in behavioral health, psychiatric services, or a related clinical setting.
- Experience in intake, admissions, care coordination, or navigation.
Responsibilities
- Lead and streamline the behavioral health admission process, including a one-call/one-number access model.
- Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments of children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients to determine appropriate levels of care.
- Facilitate admissions to inpatient and outpatient services based on clinical criteria.
- Coordinate alternative placements when admission is not appropriate or capacity is limited.
- Identify and address barriers to admission, patient placement, and access to care.
- Ensure intake and admission documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with regulatory standards.
- Guide patients and families through the healthcare system from intake through the episode of care.
- Communicate treatment processes, procedures, and available resources to patients and families.
- Coordinate services with psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, case managers, and community providers.
- Connect patients to community resources, support services, and educational programs.
- Track patient progress, interventions, and outcomes across the continuum of care.
- Triage incoming calls and referrals and conduct initial intakes, including clinical and insurance information.
- Collaborate with Patient Placement, unit staff, and leadership to support efficient patient flow.
- Oversee appointment scheduling and maintain timely throughput.
- Verify insurance benefits, obtain prior authorizations, and coordinate financial clearance as needed.
- Use the electronic health record and other systems to document patient interactions and maintain accurate records.
- Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, organizational policies, and the Kansas Nurse Practice Act when applicable.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives and process optimization efforts.
- Communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including referral sources.
- Escalate risks, concerns, or barriers to appropriate leadership.
- Provide a professional, responsive, and patient-centered experience.
- Comply with Stormont Vail Health policies, standards, mandatory training, and requirements, and perform other duties as assigned.
