Admission Unit Clerk, Am (Crisis Center)

The Behavioral Health Crisis Center is strategically placed in Mobile County with easy access for the area with the highest need and the most frequent use, the midtown/downtown area of Mobile. This Crisis Center operates a 24/7/365 with a full complement of staff to provide crisis de-escalation and resolution no matter the time or the day.

A study of mental health related law enforcement calls shows that, as one of Alabama’s largest cities, Mobile has the highest demand for police and EMS within the I-65/I-165 corridor. Stationing the Diversion Center in this area will allow expeditious access from Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties, which will also utilize the Diversion Center. Mobile Metro Jail is the second largest jail in Alabama. The annual number of individuals booked into the jail is just under 20,000. Since the Stepping Up Initiative began last year, all inmates are screened for mental illness and substance use disorders. Last year 6,828 individuals screened positive for serious mental illness. This is a serious over-representation of mentally ill individuals per capita when compared to statistics for the general population. Most individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders are arrested for petty crimes. These individuals could be diverted from arrest with the addition of more Mobile Crisis response and a Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Based on data collected from Crisis Response Team calls, Access to Care, law enforcement, local emergency departments, and a Community Health Needs Assessments, the size and structure of the Crisis Center must consist of a large living room model staffed by peer specialists, an 18 recliner temporary observation unit, and a 6 bed extended observation unit.

Admissions responsibilities

• Promptly responds to all Finance and Accounting requests to ensure prompt reimbursement.
• Researches all patients that present with no insurance through Medicaid and Medicare eligibility sites. Also research other insurance sites.
• Ensures all releases are obtained and scanned into P.O.S. timely and accurately.
• Accurately populates all fields as related to the admission process in the Avatar system as related to the patients’ insurance and guarantor rankings.

Office professional responsibilities

• Ensures all charts are accounted for and filed on the chart rack at the end of each shift and all signatures have been obtained on progress notes/orders. Restraints and Seclusion observation sheets.
• Assists with pulling and locating charts and with other requests.
• Assembles charts and checks records for availability of forms.
• As needed or directed, serves as back up for Floater.
• Completes Compliance Checklists on a daily basis.
• Notifies nurses of e-signature changes.
• Submits lab orders as requested.
• Ensures unit/nursing supplies are maintained at appropriate levels.
• Reviews documentation for any improper corrections, missing signatures, dates, times, etc. and monitors for completeness.
• Performs basic clerical functions.
• Distributes office supply orders for the unit and orders supplies as needed.
• Returns incomplete documentation to the program supervisor.
• Maintains the chart tracking (charge-out) system to track the location of each record.
• Files documentation in the appropriate section of the consumers’ records as needed.
• Completes administrative review when needed.
• Keeps Dietary informed of admissions.
• Makes copies and faxes information as needed and checks fax regularly.
• Upon admission, accesses and prints medication lists and medical checklists for active consumers and places on charts.
• Ensures the cleanliness and orderliness of the units.
• Accesses labs on a daily basis, prints reports and places on appropriate charts for review.
• Completes census management on a daily basis accurately and completely.
• Keys billing information on a daily basis from the DSR into the CSM system appropriately.
• Notifies applicable staff of emergency situations in an appropriate and timely manner.

Other duties that may be performed depending on facility

• Checks for weekend admissions.
• Checks all room assignments.
• Pulls mail.
• Schedules court related appointments.
• Runs census.
• Discharges packets for receiving facilities including to ICF units to include Psychiatric evaluation, H&P, and Labs.

Supervision and consultation

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvements.
• Actively works to enhance skills.

Courteous and respectful towards consumers, visitors and co-workers

• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Assists consumer visitors and staff as needed.
• Is sensitive to the consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Works in a cooperative manner with other AltaPointe employees.
• Respects consumers’ privacy and confidentiality.
• Treats consumer with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Is gentle and calm with consumers, families and others as appropriate.
• Adheres to all 5 Star Customer Service guidelines when interacting with others.

Administrative and other related duties as assigned

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.

Physical Requirements of the Job

• Must have visual acuity in at least one eye and manual dexterity.
• Continuous sitting (extended sitting) up to 2 hours at a time until break or lunch.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time, continuously bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach and lift at least 10 pounds.
• Strong grasp/pinch grip needed to use keys in doors and to handle medical records.
• Sitting can be in frequent bursts up to 10 minutes. Extended sitting can be up to, but limited to 1 hour.
• Forward reaching, reaching out to front, and overhead reaching with up to 5 pounds to 15 is performed when filing records and charts.
• Lifting and carrying up to 15 pounds to transport small quantity of charts various distances in facility.
• Any additional duties as assigned by management.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity to use computer, write and handle medical records paperwork.
• Forward reaching, overhead reaching and reaching down while filing medical record that can range up to 15 pounds.
• Lifting various ranges from the floor to overhead throughout the day with up to 15 pounds (medical records and supplies).
• While filing in the medical records department, the employee may bend forward squat/lunge stoop or crouch to access the levels that are at floor waist level. Forward bending while sitting or crouching to access safe in office may be needed.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity for data entry, writing and handling paperwork.
• Reaching forward to place paperwork on a document stand.
• Standing and walking frequently throughout shift and to various locations in the facility to file charts and put up supplies.
• Frequent pushing/pulling with a force up to 25 pounds (medical record cart) and doors throughout the facility (5 pounds).
• Step ladder climbing frequently to access higher shelves for filing and stocking/retrieving supplies.
• Grasping to turn keys in doors throughout facility, grabbing files/paperwork

High school graduate or equivalent

Preferred applicants have experience in healthcare field, with experience relative to admissions and discharges.