Director of Admissions and Referrals (RN or MSW)

Director of Admissions & Referrals is responsible for leading and overseeing assessment and referral operations at a psychiatric and chemical dependency hospital. This role provides direction to staff delivering psychiatric and substance use assessment services, including clinical evaluations, crisis intervention, and appropriate referrals as well as supervises reception team. The position works closely with medical staff, department leaders, and hospital administration, and serves as a key liaison with treatment teams, external case managers, managed care organizations, and other hospital intake departments to support timely, coordinated patient access to care.

Primary Responsibilities

• Directs the screening of potential patients for admission into the program and initiate the integrated assessment process.
• Assists administration, physicians and clinical staff in the assessment of pending admits to determine appropriateness of level of care and communicates pending admissions.
• Use the approved admission criteria and make decisions concerning the level of care for treatment using the least restrictive level appropriate.
• Plans, coordinates and evaluates direct and indirect facility assessments and patient admissions.
• Ensures that all vital patient assessment information is referred accurately to the attending physicians, and that patient historical information obtained is complete to facilitate an accurate determination for the appropriate level of care.
• Prepares morning meeting reports to communicate pertinent census information, referral sources, pending admissions and follow-up action pending admissions, pending discharges and nature of discharge.
• Collaborate with the Director of Business Development to develop, implement and monitor a target-marketing plan for the program.
• Consult with the business office and/or admission staff as needed to clarify data and ensure the insurance verification process is complete to the best of staff ability.
• Assure that hiring, disciplinary actions and termination procedures are conducted in accordance with hospital policies.
• Ensure the department meets JCAHO, Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Medicare/Medicaid and federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that all deficiencies identified through the performance improvement analysis are addressed with appropriate problem solving actions.
• Demonstrates a professional attitude and support the objectives of the Facility's marketing and guest relations philosophy through internal and external communications and interactions with all levels of staff, patients, family members, guests, community and referral sources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of assessment and referral techniques and accepted procedures
• Knowledge of patient assessment, family motivating treatment planning techniques
• Knowledge of external review organizations (i.e. managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, state gatekeep for Medicaid).
• Knowledge of patients' rights, advanced directives, adult and child abuse laws, and emergency detention.
• Knowledge of complex patient care planning.
• Knowledge and utilization of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of payor resources and financial planning.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent leadership and negotiation skills.
• Skill in interacting with multiple individuals with diversified roles and perspectives.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.