Mental Health Intake Coordinator

The Mental Health Intake Clinician coordinates internal/external admissions and referrals and makes program admission decisions utilizing established clinical criteria. This role is responsible for coordination of insurance authorizations and necessary pre-certification, re-certification, denial and appeal procedures to maximize reimbursement potential for clinical and medical services.

The Intake Clinician is responsible for educating and training physicians or medical residents, clinical staff and community professionals about the admissions processes and procedures. This role is also responsible for assuring a leadership role in interdisciplinary health care team and advocacy for quality patient care.

Essential Job Statements

• Conducts clinical biopsychosocial assessments to include mental health symptoms, substance use issues, housing concerns, financial and employment problems, abuse and domestic violence history, religious faith or spirituality, military status, medical issues, and any other psychiatric, social, or health issues.
• Uses the hospital admissions criteria to make direct decisions regarding the appropriateness of patients for admission to the program.
• Handles all required insurance/managed care authorization and pre-certification functions for each admission scheduled and communicates relevant clinical information to the physicians and nursing staff prior to the admission of each patient.
• Utilizes sound judgment in applying predetermined admission criteria, under clinical supervision.
• Utilizes clinical assessment and applies case conceptualization to make appropriate decisions, including making community referral(s) at the appropriate level of care for new and existing patients.
• Utilizes his/her clinical expertise to serve as a crisis consultant as needed and provides clinical backup and support to non-clinical Patient Services Representatives in the performance of their scheduling duties.
• Represents department on hospital committees or projects.
• Coordinates marketing and community education planning and implementation of plans.
• Communicates with payors and determines medical necessity for admission and appeals for continued stay.
• Provides individual, group, and family therapy in order to appropriately assess, diagnose, and treat patients affected by social issues and mental health disorders.
• Collaborates daily with patients, their families, the interdisciplinary team, and community agencies to facilitate a safe discharge from the program, where appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission of VCUHS and the department. Accepts alternate unit assignments (including at other clinical locations), as required.

Patient Population: Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.  Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures. Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents years)

Employment Qualifications

Required Education: Master's Degree in Social Work or Counseling from an accredited program.
Preferred Education: N/A

Licensing/ Certification

Licensure/Certification Required: Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of previous work experience handling/negotiating cases with insurance companies based on area of specialty.

Previous work experience completing psychiatric assessments, providing individual, group, family therapy services, case management and/or discharge planning at a psychiatric healthcare facility.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: N/A

Cultural Responsiveness: Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A

Working Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse. May be required to use physical restraints. May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. * May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials. *  May have periods of constant interruptions.

* Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Lifting/ Carrying lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.),

Push/ Pull lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Balance, Bending

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Acuity – near

Hazards: Use of Latex Gloves, Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents

Mental/Sensory – Emotional  

Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly Write Legibly,

Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Fast pace environment, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities , Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR

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