Intake Registered Nurse - PRN
About The Position
The Intake Clinician is a behavioral health professional responsible for facilitating admissions, conducting clinical intake assessments, and managing prior authorization so patients receive the most appropriate level of care. The role manages daily intake and admissions operations, which may include screening, scheduling, financial counseling, and insurance verification. Assessments are completed at the facility and off-site as needed to screen for clinical and medical appropriateness; results are communicated to a physician, who determines the appropriate level of care. The Intake Clinician works with the business office, nursing, clinical staff, and external parties to support timely, efficient admissions. This position is an individual-contributor role, is onsite, and is not remote.
Requirements
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, counseling, psychology, mental health, or a related field; in some states, a registered nurse may qualify with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Current licensure required for the area of clinical specialty, such as an RN license, LCSW, LPC, or other clinical counseling or therapy license designated by the state where the facility operates.
- CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
- Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, referral, treatment planning, communication with external review organizations or comparable entities, and working effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Outstanding interpersonal, interviewing, and assessment skills.
- Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
Nice To Haves
- One or more years of experience in mental or behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity.
- Experience in managed care pre-certification, level-of-care assessments, and utilization.
- First aid, if required by state or facility requirements.
Responsibilities
- Facilitate intake, admission, and prior authorization processes for incoming patients.
- Verify insurance benefits and share gathered information with patients, families, and appropriate internal staff.
- Provide coverage for the Call Center Team, including answering phones, processing admission requests, reviewing and accepting patients, verifying insurance, and assisting with insurance pre-certifications during high-volume periods.
- Assess and document patients’ status in the admission and prior authorization process on an ongoing basis.
- Facilitate responses to service requests, including initial response, assessment and referral, level-of-care designation, intake into services, and follow-up.
- Follow EMTALA regulations when completing insurance verification and precertification, as appropriate.
- Respond to facility inquiries within facility policy timeframes.
- Schedule and complete pre-admission assessments and communicate recommendations to patients or their families.
- Collaborate with facility medical and psychiatric personnel to support appropriate recommendations and admissions.
- Assess patients’ physical, functional, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial needs, and implement crisis intervention and referral as appropriate.
- Educate patients and families about healthcare and social resource systems to help them access resources independently.
- Maintain documentation related to the admissions process.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefit plan
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
