Assistant Director of Admissions

Acadia Healthcare; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking an Assistant Director of Admissions to lead the Admissions Department, overseeing intake, assessment, and admission services while partnering with the Director of Admissions to supervise staff.

This role emphasizes clinical leadership, team development, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with referral sources to ensure safe, timely admissions and exceptional patient experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field is required.
• Master’s degree in a social services field or RN preferred.
• Two or more years’ experience in a healthcare admissions role is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Admissions Department and cultivate the function of the department as an integrated team.
• Implement the strategic plan of the business development and marketing department as it pertains to admission to the facility and direct potential clients to treatment.
• Provide leadership in addressing quality management issues related to crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission to the facility.
• Assign/distribute scheduled evaluations, intakes, or admissions as dictated by request and hospital census.
• Conduct quality assurance and quality improvement programs for all crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission services.
• Perform follow-up communication functions and generate recommendations for organizational leadership.
• Provide orientation, in-service, and continuing education programs for department staff and other internal positions responsible for crisis triage and/or evaluation services.
• Serve as a clinical liaison with referral sources.
• Work to improve efficiency and quality in delivering services within the department, responsible for developing and meeting departmental goals and objectives.
• Ensure that the department is up to date on and compliant with new laws and regulations.
• Train and supervise staff.
• For assigned shift will plan, assign, supervise, and perform required duties to ensure patient safety and the efficiency of the department.
• Prioritization of potential admissions, considering patient needs and the facility’s capability and capacity to meet that needs in the most appropriate manner.
• Knowledge of appropriate clinical assessment, diagnoses, and interventions with patients.
• Provide guidance and direction to staff and encourage/build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Ensure that EMTALA log, if applicable, is completed for each patient seen by admissions.
• Participate in staff training by serving as a preceptor for new admission team employees.
• 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.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field

Master’s degree in a social services field or RN preferred

Job description

Overview

The Assistant Director of Admissions supports the leadership and daily operations of the Admissions Department, ensuring efficient, high-quality intake, assessment, and admission services. This role partners closely with the Director of Admissions to oversee staff, coordinate admission activities, maintain regulatory compliance, and support patient access to care.

The ideal candidate is a strong clinical leader who excels at team development, operational oversight, and relationship building. This position plays a key role in enhancing patient experiences, supporting referral partnerships, driving quality improvement initiatives, and ensuring safe, timely, and appropriate admissions while maintaining a culture focused on patient safety and exceptional service. Hours are from 3 pm - 11 pm Monday - Friday.

At Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital, our comprehensive continuum of care offers the community a range of effective behavioral health treatment options. We provide premier inpatient services for children ages 5–12, adolescents ages 13–17, adults 18 and older, and seniors 55 and older. In addition, we offer outpatient programs for both adolescents and adults.

The pay for this role is: $62,067 - $74,422

Candidates must be comfortable working and walking between both buildings.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership to the Admissions Department and cultivate the function of the department as an integrated team.
• Implement the strategic plan of the business development and marketing department as it pertains to admission to the facility and direct potential clients to treatment.
• Provide leadership in addressing quality management issues related to crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission to the facility.
• Assign/distribute scheduled evaluations, intakes, or admissions as dictated by request and hospital census.
• Conduct quality assurance and quality improvement programs for all crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission services.
• Perform follow-up communication functions and generate recommendations for organizational leadership.
• Provide orientation, in-service, and continuing education programs for department staff and other internal positions responsible for crisis triage and/or evaluation services.
• Serve as a clinical liaison with referral sources.
• Work to improve efficiency and quality in delivering services within the department, responsible for developing and meeting departmental goals and objectives.
• Ensure that the department is up to date on and compliant with new laws and regulations.
• Train and supervise staff.
• For assigned shift will plan, assign, supervise, and perform required duties to ensure patient safety and the efficiency of the department.
• Prioritization of potential admissions, considering patient needs and the facility’s capability and capacity to meet that needs in the most appropriate manner.
• Knowledge of appropriate clinical assessment, diagnoses, and interventions with patients.
• Provide guidance and direction to staff and encourage/build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Ensure that EMTALA log, if applicable, is completed for each patient seen by admissions.
• Participate in staff training by serving as a preceptor for new admission team employees.
• 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.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field is required.
• Master’s degree in a social services field or RN preferred.
• Two or more years’ experience in a healthcare admissions role is preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• May require licensure by the state for this position.
• 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.

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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