Behavioral Health Intake/Referral Coordinator (PT))

Responsibilities

• Referral Review & Triage
• Review inpatient behavioral health referrals for appropriateness and completeness within defined timeframes.
• Triage referrals based on clinical urgency, age, diagnostic profile, and level of care needed.
• Facilitate and coordinate communication with provider for referral disposition.
• Coordinate with psychiatric teams, social workers, and case managers to obtain necessary additional documentation.
• Coordination of Care
• Facilitate timely referrals to appropriate internal or external behavioral health services.
• Maintain ongoing communication with inpatient units, community providers, and outpatient services to ensure seamless transitions.
• Documentation & Compliance
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation of referral processing activities in the hospital's record keeping system.
• Monitor referral workflows for efficiency and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including behavioral health placement laws for minors and vulnerable adults.
• Track referral and intake trends; support internal initiatives focused on reducing delays in service initiation.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds to identify behavioral health needs and initiate referrals proactively.
• Support clinical staff by providing timely intake information to ensure appropriate care transition and patient placement.
• Liaise with utilization review, psychiatry leadership, risk management, and/or legal department as needed for complex or high-risk referrals.
• Participate in performance improvement and utilization review process to support hospital goals related to access, quality, and financial stewardship.
• Patient & Family Support
• Serve as a liaison to families to explain the behavioral health referral process and provide guidance on available resources.
• Address barriers to care, including insurance verification and coordination with social services.

Qualifications

• Required:
• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina or one of the compact states by the day of clinical care.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in behavioral health, care coordination, case management, or hospital-based social services.
• Familiarity with behavioral health diagnoses, levels of care (inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization), and crisis intervention.
• Preferred:
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Nursing.
• Prior experience in a hospital or acute care setting.