Admissions Counselor

Acadia Healthcare; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Tower Behavioral Health in Reading, PA seeks an Admissions Counselor for a 24-week, full-time temporary assignment. The role handles inquiries, develops therapeutic relationships, and coordinates admissions, with emphasis on benefit eligibility, patient safety, and timely communications.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s (required) in a social services field, with a Master’s preferred, and 1+ year in behavioral health. CPR/De-escalation training is needed; licensure is state-dependent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required (if state allows).
• Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN preferred.
• One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.

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 eligibility to the business office and patient/family.
• 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 clinical information from referrals or patients is received prior to admission.
• Complete pre-admission assessments and communicate disposition recommendations.
• Prepare and maintain medical record documentation to obtain authorization from payors.
• Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission within payor guidelines.
• Admit patient to registration and accounting system; complete forms with patient.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, professional attitude toward customers; resolve complaints with patient safety as priority.
• Coordinate care for patients not admitted and ensure follow-up care/referrals.
• Demonstrate urgency regarding patient safety and provide excellent customer service.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field

Master's degree in a social services field

One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health

Job description

Overview

This is a $30/Hour Temporary assignment and not a benefit-eligible position. This is not an agency contract and we do not cover travel stipends or reimbursements for travel.

Tower Behavioral Health is seeking an Admissions Counselor at our state of the art Psych-Safe facility, with spacious outdoor courtyards, indoor gymnasiums, an herb garden and bird sanctuary. TBH provides services to adults, adolescents, and seniors. The facility offers inpatient and outpatient programs, counseling, treatment for substance use disorders and other services. It is in Reading, PA, on a partially wooded parcel on the west side of Route 183.

POSITION DETAILS:

• 24 week assignment
• The temp schedule is aFull Time schedule
• 11:00am to 11:00pm
• 3 x 12 hour shifts
• Every other weekend rotation
• $30/Hour

(Not eligible for Acadia Healthcare or TBH employees that are currently active or have worked for these companies within the last 12 months)

We strive to be the leading provider of behavioral healthcare services in southeastern PA. We are building our team, including registered nurses, with talented, energetic professionals and look forward to meeting you.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• 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 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 patients (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 the 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 the patient to the registration and accounting system. Complete all admission and consent forms with the patient.

• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

• When a patient’s 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.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required (if state allows).

• Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN preferred.

• One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Current licensure, as preferred for the area of clinical specialty, 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 preferred based on state or facility.

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs, or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed toprovidingequalemploymentopportunitiestoall applicantsforemploymentregardlessofanindividual’scharacteristicsprotected byapplicable state,federalandlocallaws.

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