Intake Counselor

River Place Behavioral Health • Laplace, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

River Place Behavioral Health is seeking an Admissions Counselor for their facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. This state-of-the-art facility provides acute inpatient care for adults struggling with various mental health concerns and co-occurring substance use disorders. The Admissions Counselor is crucial in facilitating a smooth, compassionate, and efficient admission process for patients. This role requires strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage both administrative and therapeutic tasks in a fast-paced environment. The Admissions Counselor will respond to inquiries, conduct pre-admission assessments, verify insurance, coordinate with medical teams, complete pre-authorizations, maintain documentation, and ensure compliance with facility and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, professional, and committed to patient safety, supporting individuals and families during critical decision-making moments to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN
• One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.
• Current licensure, as required for the area of clinical specialty, i.e., current RN license, CAC or other clinical counseling or therapy license, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Responsibilities

• Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• Perform benefit eligibility to ensure patient benefits are active at the time of admission. Communicate benefit eligibility to the business office and the patient or significant other.
• Collaborate with other facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations regarding pending referrals.
• Coordinate admission and transfer from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility.
• Maintain knowledge of milieu management.
• Communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives promptly.
• Ensure all clinical information from referral sources or patient (including medical comorbidity information) is received, when possible, prior to patient admission.
• Schedule (when applicable) and complete pre-admission assessments, consult with the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations to patient or their family.
• Possess skill in preparing and maintaining appropriate medical record documentation that will result in authorization at the level of care being requested of the payor.
• Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission prior to admission, when possible, and within payor timeframe guidelines.
• Admit patient in the registration and accounting system. Complete all admission and consent forms with the patient.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.
• Coordinate care for patients who are not being admitted and ensure that they receive appropriate follow-up care and referrals.
• Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
• Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or by individualized supervision guidelines as needed.
• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with industry leading annual performance-based bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match to support your financial future
• Stock-based awards, giving you a stake in Acadia’s success
• Generous paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays
• Professional development & leadership training to sharpen your skills
• Career mobility within Acadia

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level