FT Day Intake Assessor (RN/LSW / LPCS licensed)

RiverVista Behavioral Hospital; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan options

Generous PTO and paid holidays

401(k) with company contribution

Tuition reimbursement up to $15,000

Job summary

RiverVista Behavioral Hospital in Columbus, Ohio seeks an intake/admissions specialist to conduct behavioral health assessments, determine level of care, and coordinate admissions from referral to bed placement.

The role emphasizes collaboration with emergency departments, physicians, crisis teams, and families, with a strong focus on accurate EMR documentation and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Current Ohio RN license or independent behavioral health license required.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred for licensed clinicians.
• Minimum of two years in behavioral health, emergency psychiatric, crisis intervention, or intake/admissions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and suicide risk assessments for inpatient treatment seekers.
• Determine care level using clinical judgment and admission criteria.
• Coordinate admission process from referral through patient arrival.
• Collaborate with EDs, physicians, crisis centers, law enforcement, mobile crisis teams, and referrals for admissions.
• Review medical clearance and gather required clinical information for decisions.
• Communicate admission recommendations to psychiatrists and coordinate bed placement with leadership.
• Provide support and education to patients and families during intake.
• Complete accurate, timely EMR documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Coordinate after-hours admissions, transfers, and urgent referrals with treatment teams.

Skills

Behavioral health assessment

Admission coordination

Communication

EMR documentation

Regulatory awareness

Education

Ohio RN license or independent behavioral health license

Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

RiverVista is located in Columbus, Ohio and serves Franklin and surrounding counties. The focus is on behavioral health for inpatient and outpatient treatments. We serve the adults and older adult patients to guide them through their mental health struggles.

How You Will Make a Difference

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and suicide risk assessments for individuals seeking inpatient psychiatric treatment.
• Determine the appropriate level of care using clinical judgment, hospital admission criteria, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Coordinate the admission process from initial referral through patient arrival, ensuring a seamless transition into care.
• Collaborate with emergency departments, physicians, crisis centers, law enforcement, mobile crisis teams, community providers, and referral sources to facilitate appropriate admissions.
• Review medical clearance documentation and obtain all required clinical information for admission decisions.
• Communicate admission recommendations to psychiatrists and providers while coordinating bed placement with nursing and hospital leadership.
• Provide compassionate support and education to patients and families throughout the intake process.
• Complete accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation within the electronic medical record.
• Coordinate after-hours admissions, transfers, and urgent referrals while maintaining effective communication with nursing leadership and treatment teams.
• Ensure compliance with CMS, Joint Commission, EMTALA, HIPAA, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintain awareness of unit capacity, patient acuity, and staffing considerations to support safe patient placement.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, regulatory readiness activities, and departmental education.

What You Bring

• Current Ohio RN license or independent behavioral health license (LISW, LPCC, LPC, LSW, or equivalent) required.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred for licensed behavioral health clinicians.
• Minimum of two years of behavioral health, emergency psychiatric, crisis intervention, or intake/admissions experience preferred.
• Knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses, crisis assessment, suicide risk evaluation, and behavioral health treatment planning.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, and customer service abilities.
• Ability to remain calm and effective during high‑acuity situations.
• Experience with electronic medical records preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous psychiatric hospital intake or admissions experience.
• Experience working with involuntary admissions and emergency psychiatric evaluations.

Why You’ll Love It Here (Full-Time Benefits)

• Multiple medical plan options, Vista Wellness (physician/pharmacy), Dental, Vision
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• 401(k) with company contribution; Life and disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement up to $15,000 and student loan forgiveness programs