Intake Clinician

The Intake Clinician is a behavioral health professional responsible for facilitating admissions, clinical intake assessments, and the prior authorization process to assure continuity for the most appropriate level of care for patients. The clinician performs assessments, screens for clinical and medical appropriateness, and communicates this information to a physician who makes the appropriate level of care decision. The role works closely with the business office, nursing, and clinical staff, as well as external parties, to ensure the timely admission of patients.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Facilitates intake, admission, and prior authorization process for incoming patients.
• Performs insurance benefit verifications and disseminates the information to patients, their families, and appropriate internal staff.
• Provides accurate and ongoing assessment of patients’ status in the admission and prior authorization process.
• Facilitates the response to requests for services, including the initial response, the assessment and referral process, designation of appropriate level of care, initiation/intake into services, and appropriate follow‑up activity.
• Follows EMTALA regulations to complete insurance verification and precertification when appropriate.
• Responds to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
• Schedules and completes pre‑admission assessments and communicates recommendations to patients or their families.
• Collaborates with other facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations and admissions.
• Performs ongoing assessments of physical, functional, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial needs of patients and implements crisis intervention and referral.
• Provides education regarding healthcare and social resource systems to empower patients and their families to access resources independently.
• Maintains all documentation involved with the admissions process.

Education, Experience, and Skill Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, counseling, psychology, mental health, or a related field is required.
• In some states, a registered nurse with an associate’s or bachelor's degree in nursing is also acceptable.
• Three or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity is preferred.
• Experience in the managed care pre‑certification process, level‑of‑care assessments, and utilization is preferred.
• Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, referral, treatment planning, communication with external review organizations or comparable entities, and working effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Outstanding interpersonal and interviewing and assessment skills.
• Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.

Licenses, Designations, and Certifications

• Current licensure as required for the area of clinical specialty (e.g., RN license, CAC, or other clinical counseling or therapy license, as designated by the state in which the facility operates).
• CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

Supervisory Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Benefits

Safe Harbor Recovery Center offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Safe Harbor Recovery Center is an EOE. Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.