Access to Care Specialist

AltaPointe Health Systems; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

AltaPointe Health Systems seeks a dedicated Access to Care Specialist to coordinate patient intake and crisis referrals. You will screen needs, facilitate admissions, and document in the EMR with compassion and confidentiality.

The role requires strong communication, customer service, and a willingness to learn across conditions and resources. Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in a mental health field and demonstrate patience, attentiveness, and a collaborative spirit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a mental health discipline or related field.
• Clear communication and good customer service skills, including patience and attentiveness, with a positive demeanor.
• Willingness to attain additional knowledge within six months.
• Knowledge areas: psychiatric disorders, basic addiction concepts, crisis intervention, community resources, and cultural diversity.

Responsibilities

• Screen requests for services to determine needs and prioritization.
• Facilitate admission to AltaPointe program services based on clinical criteria.
• Complete initial screenings and accurately populate EMR for potential patients.
• Assist with follow-up services regarding patient well-being and scheduling.
• Provide community resources and referrals to callers and patients.
• Provide crisis intervention and resolution as needed.
• Adhere to customer service standards and AltaPointe policies.
• Seek supervision and professional development as required.
• Document timely, accurately, and comprehensively in EMR.

Skills

Clear communication

Customer service

Patience

Attentiveness

Positive language

Work ethic

Education

Bachelor's degree in mental health or related field

Tools

EMR

Job description

Would you like to be part of a well-established healthcare organization that is genuinely making a positive impact in our communities? Become a member of our team now! This week, AltaPointe is organizing a hiring event. Explore our job opportunities at AltaPointe.org, submit your online application, and then join us for Open Interviews to meet with a recruiter in person! Experience is not required, as we have positions available at all levels. Thursday, October 8th- 3030 Knollwood Drive in Mobile from 10 am - 2 pm.

The Access to Care department is the single point of entry into the majority of AltaPointe's programs and services. Access to Care is responsible for coordinating patient care throughout our continuum, which may include facilitating hospital admissions and crisis services, making discharge arrangements following hospitalization, initializing outpatient services for new patients, as well as providing referrals and linkage to other community resources. Through a brief telephone screening, trained staff members assess an individual’s needs for care, triage any crisis that the caller is experiencing, and determine the most appropriate level of care and service. All Access to Care team members receive specialized crisis training in addition to their own experience and educational credentials which include bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in behavioral health disciplines or related fields.

Access to Care Specialists screen requests for services to determine the problem(s), assess risk level, and prioritize the needs of the individual. They provide crisis intervention and resolution, including symptomatic relief, de-escalation or resolution of the situation, and referrals to appropriate services. They also facilitate admission to program services ensuring appropriateness of level of care through use of clinical criteria.

Essential Functions

• Screens requests for services to determine the problem(s), assess risk level, and prioritize the needs of the individual
• Facilitates admission to AltaPointe program services ensuring appropriateness of level of care through use of clinical criteria
• Completes initial screenings and accurately populates EMR for potential patients, including those requesting outpatient, crisis, and hospital services.
• Assists with needed follow up services regarding patient well-being, payor source information, rescheduling, etc.
• Provides community resources and referral information to callers and patients.
• Provides crisis intervention and resolution, including symptomatic relief, de-escalation or resolution of the situation, and referrals to appropriate services, when indicated
• Adheres to customer service standards and professional code of ethics
• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance skills
• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents appropriately, completely, and comprehensively in EMR
• Documents in a clear and concise manner
• Assists and treats patients with care, dignity, and compassion
• Respects patient’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Demonstrates sensitivity to the patient’s needs, expectations, and individual differences
• Maintains a gentle and calm demeanor when assisting patients and families
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures

Bachelor’s degree in a mental health discipline or related field. Must have clear communication and good customer service skills, including patience, attentiveness, the ability to use positive language; great work ethic and a willingness to do what needs to be done. Knowledge in specialties outlined below, to be attained within (6) six months of employment.

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders
• Basic knowledge of the nature of addiction
• Knowledge of crisis intervention
• Knowledge of community resources
• Knowledge of cultural diversity