Inpatient Counselor Admission Specialist/Utilization Review

Sioux Center Health; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 36,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO available day 1 for eligible hires

Up to 5% employer matching retirement

Career development and mentorship

Job summary

The Admissions Specialist is the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking help for substance use and co‑occurring disorders. You will guide prospective patients through intake, screening and verification, coordinating with clinical and financial teams to move inquiries into admissions.

Responsibilities include immediate inquiry management, pre-admission screening, crisis intervention, insurance verification and financial coordination, scheduling, CRM/EHR documentation,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required.
• Active LAC and CAC licenses in the state of practice.
• Ability to facilitate intake, screening, and coordination with clinical and billing teams.

Responsibilities

• Respond to inquiries via phone, web forms, and chat to move toward admission.
• Conduct initial pre-admission screenings to assess fit for level of care.
• Provide crisis intervention and empathetic communication in high-stress situations.
• Gather and verify insurance information; communicate financial responsibilities to families.
• Coordinate admission dates, logistics, transportation, and intake documentation.
• Document communications and lead statuses in EHR/CRM systems.
• Maintain relationships with alumni, hospitals, therapists, and community partners.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Organizational skills

Crisis intervention

Education

Bachelor's degree

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

Job description

Pay RangeThe pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate dependent upon experience. $25.50 - $48.50

Location:Avera Addiction Care Center-Sioux Falls

Worker TypeRegular

Work ShiftDay Shift (United States of America)

Position Highlights

Job SummaryThe Admissions Specialist is the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking help for substance use and co‑occurring disorders. This role requires an empathetic, highly organized professional who can guide prospective patients through the intake, screening, and verification processes. You will turn inquiries into admissions by providing compassionate support, clear information, and efficient coordination with our clinical and financial teams.

Key Responsibilities

Inquiry Management: Respond immediately to all incoming calls, web forms, and chat inquiries from individuals, families, and treatment providers.

Pre-Admission Screening: Conduct initial telephone screenings to assess the appropriateness of fit for our facility’s level of care.

Crisis Intervention: Provide empathetic, calm, and supportive phone communication to individuals in high‑stress or crisis situations.

Insurance & Financial Coordination: Gather insurance information and collaborate with the billing department to verify benefits and communicate financial responsibilities to families.

Logistics & Scheduling: Coordinate admission dates, arrival logistics, transportation, and intake documentation.

CRM Tracking: Document all communications, follow‑ups, and lead statuses accurately in our electronic health records (EHR) and CRM database.

Outreach Support: Maintain relationships with alumni, local hospitals, therapists, and community partners to support a strong referral network.

Authorization Management: Complete initial pre‑certifications and manage ongoing concurrent reviews for medical and residential levels of care

You Belong at AveraBe part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

A Brief OverviewAssists in coordinating, planning, implementing and facilitating programs and counseling services across the continuum of care. Responsibilities may include several of the following areas: individual, group and family counseling, Critical Incident Stress Management, and other current and future groups/programs. All of these areas may involve providing assessments, facilitating treatment and crisis intervention of clientele affected by substance abuse, addiction, and dual diagnoses issues. Providing community/education services will be a part of this position (as needed) as well assisting with educating staff on the role of an addiction counselor. Will serve as a clinical supervisor to those pursuing their trainee status as needed.

What You Will Do

• Provides a program of behavioral health treatment for clients/patients and participates with provider/interdisciplinary team planning for continued care in the specific treatment model respective to client/patient needs.
• Efficiently provides thorough addiction‑related evaluations/assessments and consultation services on an outpatient and inpatient basis and makes the appropriate recommendations specific to client/patient needs.
• Demonstrates effective understanding and the appropriate application of ASAM dimensional criteria when working with inpatient clientele.
• Promotes the psychotherapeutic programs and services within hospital departments, our health system and within the community/region as appropriate. Provides educational programs on a variety of behavioral health topics in an inpatient setting as well as within the hospital setting, and in community as requested.
• Coordinates, implements and markets crisis intervention, EAP counseling, addiction programming and educational services as needed/appropriate. Assists with staff/student on the job training/orientation as needed/appropriate.
• Utilizes behavioral assessment tools effectively for substance abuse/addiction issues and/or mental health‑related conditions and makes appropriate referral/treatment recommendations.
• Assess the client’s behavioral health condition on an ongoing basis and effectively recognizes the significance of changes warranting a modification of the treatment plan and/or the appropriate referral‑related recommendations.
• Establishes and maintains therapeutic relationships with clients/patients within individual and group counseling settings as well as when providing inpatient consultation/counseling services. Communicates effectively with client, family, team members, physicians, inter‑departmental staff and other agencies as needed/appropriate.
• Maintains accurate and concise records through appropriate and timely documentation of counseling services and any pertinent information involving client/patient care. Assists with the analysis and collection of data for Performance Improvement as appropriate/requested.

Essential QualificationsThe individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, Or Work Experience

• Bachelor's
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) - Department of Health and Human Services An active license in the state of practice Upon Hire or
• Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) - Licensing Board An active license in the state of practice Upon Hire

Preferred Education, License/Certification, Or Work Experience

• 4-6 years related experience and/or training
• Clinical experience conducting addiction evaluations, facilitating group therapy sessions, and providing individual counseling services
• Experience working with clients having dual diagnosis issues (addictive disorders in conjunction with mental health conditions
• Clinical experience with couples and/or family therapy

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

• PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement
• Career development guided by hands‑on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to [e-mail].