Intake (Admissions) Director

Position Overview

The Intake Director is accountable for the oversight and direction of the hospital's Intake (Admissions) Department. Position provides direction to a staff of specialists in the provision of patient access to care and behavioral health assessment services, including call management, clinical evaluations for level of care, crisis intervention, admissions, and referrals. This position interfaces closely with the hospital's medical staff, nursing staff, fellow department heads, and administration, as well as external referring agencies and payers. The Intake Director is responsible for the department's budget, FTE management, policies and procedures, regulatory compliance, service excellence, and data management/analysis. In addition, the Intake Director participates with the senior leadership team in the development and management of processes related to the hospital's strategic goals.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Directs the screening of potential patients for admission into the program and initiates the integrated assessment process.
• Monitors all intake/appointment information calls 24 hours a day and prepares appropriate forms.
• Functions as a liaison between physicians and families.
• 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.
• Ensure that referral sources are notified of, or participate in, decisions about appropriate transitions between levels 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.
• Assure patient's rights are upheld in compliance with all state and federal regulations.
• Provide for guest relations and ensure the appearance of the facility and way program staff communicate with patients, families, referral sources and fellow staff is effective and professional.
• Involve appropriate facility management in all decisions and review these decisions with CEO prior to implementation.
• Assure adequate supervision and evaluation processes for all staff members and delegate these responsibilities as appropriate.
• Provide for educational needs and professional development of staff.
• Ensure that the staff schedule and configuration will meet the hospital needs.
• Ensure an adequate system of communication and reporting is maintained between all staff members, as well as other departments involved in the ongoing operation of the program.
• Ensure the department meets TJC, Medicare and federal/state regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement a Performance Improvement Plan, evaluate the results monthly, and report results to the Performance Improvement Committee in a timely manner.
• Ensure that all deficiencies identified through the performance improvement analysis are addressed with appropriate problem-solving actions.
• Review all risk management occurrences and ensure that complete and timely reports are submitted to Risk Management.
• Analyze department statistical data to determine and respond to trends.