Admissions Counselor, Days

About the role

River Place Behavioral Health is a state-of-the-art facility in LaPlace, Louisiana, offering acute inpatient care for adults with mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and co-occurring substance use disorders. The Admissions Counselor plays a crucial role in the admission process, ensuring a smooth and compassionate experience.

Responsibilities

• Respond to inquiries within facility policy timeframes
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families
• Verify insurance benefits and communicate eligibility to the business office and patient/family
• Collaborate with medical and psychiatric teams for appropriate referrals
• Coordinate admissions and transfers from referral sources and between levels of care
• Maintain knowledge of milieu management
• Communicate projected admissions to internal representatives
• Receive and document medical information from referral sources or patients
• Schedule and complete pre-admission assessments, consult with the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations
• Prepare and maintain appropriate medical record documentation for authorization
• Complete pre-authorization for treatment and admission
• Admit patients in the registration and accounting system
• Complete admission and consent forms with the patient
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude towards customers
• Resolve patient complaints and ensure patient safety
• Coordinate follow-up care and referrals for non-admitted patients
• Conduct safety checks and ensure supervision as needed

Requirements

• Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing)
• One or more years' experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity
• Current licensure, as required for the area of clinical specialty (current RN license, CAC or other clinical counseling or therapy license)

Skills

• Strong clinical judgment
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to balance administrative and therapeutic responsibilities
• Empathy and professionalism
• Commitment to patient safety