Behavioral Health Admissions Counselor

North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital; Wesley Chapel (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking a clinical admissions professional in Wesley Chapel, FL to facilitate admissions, complete intake assessments, and coordinate transfers across levels of care. The role emphasizes accurate benefit verification, payer communication, and timely documentation for authorization.

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor's in a social services field (master's preferred) and have experience in behavioral health settings, CPR certification, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a social services field required.
• Master's degree in a social services field 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 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.

Skills

Inquiries response

Therapeutic relationships

Benefit eligibility

Interdepartmental collaboration

Admission coordination

Milieu management

Admissions notifications

Pre-admission scheduling

Medical record documentation

Pre-authorization processing

Admissions data entry

Customer service mindset

Complaint resolution

Care coordination for non-admitted

Patient safety urgency

Supervision awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in social services

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

One or more years' experience in mental/behavioral health (clinical/observational) preferred

Current licensure, as preferred for area of clinical specialty

CPR certification

De-escalation/restraint certification

First aid certification (preferred)

Tools

CPR/De-escalation training

Job description

North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking a clinical admissions professional in Wesley Chapel, FL to facilitate admissions, complete intake assessments, and coordinate transfers across levels of care. The role emphasizes accurate benefit verification, payer communication, and timely documentation for authorization.

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor's in a social services field (master's preferred) and have experience in behavioral health settings, CPR certification, and a