Director of Admissions

Summit BHC•Raleigh, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Admissions manages the patient assessment, referral, and admission process and is responsible for the development, direction, operations, financial management, and human-resource development of the Admissions Department. The role coordinates with facility staff to support smooth admissions and leads a multidisciplinary team in building relationships with payers, physicians, clinicians, hospitals, community mental health centers, and other organizations. The Director also oversees projects and updates intended to improve quality outcomes and maintain revenue-generating strategies. This position provides oversight of admissions and clinical evaluations of prospective patients, coordinates psychiatric assessments with medical staff, and oversees the Call Center Team’s call management, admission requests, insurance verification, preauthorization, and referral handling. The Director manages and develops staff, scheduling, productivity, budgets, compliance, documentation, quality and safety practices, and continuous improvement of intake processes. The position works with department heads, medical staff, the Business Office, leadership, and referral sources to integrate admissions services and promote appropriate referrals. It is an onsite position at the facility and is not remote. Additional duties may include onsite coverage for other programs, developing programs based on market needs, training, case consultation, Administrator On Call coverage, and assigned Leadership Rounds.

Requirements

Registered Nurse or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, counseling, psychology, mental health, or a related clinical field.
At least two years of healthcare admissions experience; behavioral health experience is preferred.
Working knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis and the Addiction & Recovery field.
Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, treatment planning, and communicating with external review organizations or comparable entities.
RN license, or LCSW, LMHC, LPC, or another behavioral health license required by the state for the position.
CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
At least one year of proven supervisory or management experience.

Nice To Haves

Behavioral health admissions experience.
Supervisory or management experience in Admissions.

Responsibilities

Oversee admissions and provide clinical evaluations of prospective patients to determine program appropriateness; coordinate psychiatric assessments with medical staff.
Oversee the Call Center Team, including call management, admission requests, insurance verification, preauthorization, referral management, and compliance with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and quality standards.
Identify and prioritize important issues and collaborate with department and corporate leaders as needed.
Communicate instructions, expectations, and timelines clearly.
Hire, orient, assess, manage, motivate, train, schedule, and coach staff to meet department goals and support efficient operations.
Maintain productivity aligned with patient census and limit unnecessary overtime or excessive work hours.
Manage staff scheduling and maintain contingency staffing plans.
Maintain accountability for job performance, quality, safety, attendance, conduct, policy compliance, and patient safety.
Identify staff education needs and ensure staff attend appropriate education programs.
Develop proactive, data-based census strategies and report referral and admission data.
Assess pre-admission workflows and maintain a departmental intake continuous-improvement plan.
Build effective relationships with referral sources, including physicians, social workers, state officials, and payers.
Educate staff and referral sources about company services, industry changes, clinical programs and capabilities, clinical outcomes, and appropriate referrals and admissions.
Manage department finances; prepare and monitor budgets and spending to remain within allocated funds.
Ensure accurate billing information is available for admissions and coordinate with the Business Office.
Prepare for regulatory surveys and maintain documentation in accordance with regulatory and accrediting standards.
Work with Department Heads and Medical Staff to integrate admissions services effectively into hospital operations.
Determine and implement admissions best practices, promote the hospital, and maintain a satisfied patient base.
Provide onsite coverage for other programs when needed; develop and execute programs according to market needs; and provide training, case consultation, or Administrator On Call coverage during and after program hours as needed.
Perform assigned Leadership Rounds, observing and identifying environment-of-care, safety, and infection-control concerns and providing real-time education on new facility processes.