Intake RN - FT

Summit BHC•City of Rochester, NY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Intake RN performs daily patient intake and/or admissions operations, which may include screening, financial counseling, insurance verification, and assessment at or outside the facility, depending on patient or hospital needs. The nurse screens and assesses admissions for clinical and medical appropriateness and communicates findings to a physician, who makes admission and level-of-care decisions. The role works closely with business office, nursing, and clinical staff, along with external parties, to support timely admissions and respond to admission inquiries. The position facilitates admissions and assessment for incoming patients, provides an initial evaluation, and begins the integrated assessment by documenting symptoms, functioning, and needs. It also provides additional Call Center coverage as needed. Medication administration and related responsibilities may be part of the role, following physician orders and applicable protocols.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, referral, treatment planning, and communicating with external review organizations or comparable entities.
Experience in managed care pre-certification, level-of-care assessments, and utilization.
Outstanding interpersonal, interviewing, and assessment skills.
Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
Valid current RN license from the state or a compact state, where applicable.
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.

Nice To Haves

BSN preferred.
One or more years of experience in mental health or substance use disorder admissions preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitate admissions and assessments for incoming patients, including initial evaluation and initiation of the integrated assessment.
Collaborate with medical and psychiatric staff on recommendations and admissions, and communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives in a timely manner.
Provide Call Center coverage during high-volume periods, including answering phones, processing admission requests, reviewing and accepting patients, verifying insurance, and assisting with insurance pre-certifications.
Gather medical admission documentation from external sources before admission and secure initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission.
Review patient charts for medical necessity and staff referrals and assessments with the appropriate physician to obtain orders, recommendations, and a DSM-V diagnosis when appropriate.
Communicate treatment recommendations and coordinate with other treatment teams.
Advocate for the lowest level of care consistent with patient needs and coordinate admissions and transfers between facility levels of care.
Complete thorough and accurate patient documentation and facilitate service requests, including initial response, assessment, referral, level-of-care designation, admission into services, and follow-up.
Respond to facility inquiries within applicable facility policy timeframes.
Verify insurance benefits and share gathered information with patients, families, and appropriate facility staff; provide ongoing assessment of patient status during the admissions process.
As needed, administer medications in accordance with physician orders and established hospital and licensing agency protocols; educate patients about side effects, assess the effectiveness of education, monitor compliance and lab results, and adjust medications under psychiatrist supervision as needed.
As needed, maintain accountability for medication administration, recording, control, and security, including narcotics; complete Adverse Drug Reaction forms when necessary and maintain knowledge of common psychiatric medications.
Perform other assigned duties, including assisting on the patient unit.