Behavioral Health Intake - Bh Intake Counselor , Full Time, 12 Hour Shifts ,11Am-1130Pm

Reporting to the Behavior Health Manager of Intake Services, performs mental health assessments for hospital patients and customers. Performs comprehensive clinical assessments and completes pre-certifications for insurance companies and required admission documentation. Provides treatment referrals that are consistent with the customer’s medical and psychiatric status and symptoms.

1. Responds to requests from hospital departments and medical units for behavioral health level of care intake assessments. Assists departments as needed providing crisis intervention, referrals, coordination of disposition, admission, and completion of all required legal forms in accordance with Illinois Mental Health Code.
2. Responsible for conducting comprehensive clinical assessments for patients seeking treatment including assessing and documenting patient’s clinical condition and needs. Obtains initial patient vitals, diagnostic impression and confirmation during the disposition process with the psychiatrist. Obtains collateral with families and support systems through face-to-face interviews and/or phone calls. Obtains collateral with the patient’s existing behavioral health providers, including school referral sources for adolescent patients.
3. Communicates with interdisciplinary teams that include ED physicians, ED nurses, hospitalists, and unit nurses. Collaborates with the on-call psychiatrist to determine level of care. Reviews previous documentation prior to assessment process and synthesizes patient history and current clinical condition into a case formulation. Provides treatment referrals consistent with the patient’s medical and psychiatric status and symptoms. Identifies and reports potential/actual problems that may adversely affect the patient and/or department. Completes Occurrence Reports and emails via chain of command as needed. Oversees follow up with referral sources as appropriate.
4. Provides comprehensive written and verbal patient documentation and communication to physicians and staff and follows up with local and state agencies as mandated reporter per HIPPA guidelines.
5. Prioritizes inpatient transfer requests and reviews the clinical information provided to determine appropriateness for admission to inpatient behavioral health units. Facilitates patient transfers to other facilities as needed contacting the accepting psychiatrist and providing clinical report to staff at accepting facility. Completes all legal and transfer forms after medical and psychiatric clearance has been determined.
6. Coordinates and communicates with interdisciplinary staff regarding the external placement of patients and documents requests with external facilities.
7. Provides comprehensive clinical information and documentation for pre-certification and authorization of admission in the electronic medical records system (EMR). Initiates and completes the pre-certification and/or authorization for admission process gathering funding information, obtaining signatures for release of information; follow up with Utilization Review Department as needed, and resolves any issues with insurance companies to determine eligibility for services.
8. Acts as patient advocate in maximizing mental health care benefits with behavioral management companies and community agencies. Utilizes community resources for patients without funding, i.e. local mental health centers and SASS (Screening Assessment and Support Services).
9. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to assess, and care for all age groups of patients from pediatric to geriatric; implements assessment, treatment and care based on the developmental stage of the patient. Involves family/guardian in plan of care and conducts patient and family education as appropriate to the developmental needs of the patient.
10. Maintains current knowledge pertaining to clinical role. Participates in quality improvement activities and supports the organizations goals, safety and security programs.
11. Adheres to all Northwest Community Hospital standards, policies, and procedures.

8. The interpersonal skills necessary to interact with patients, families, hospital personnel, physicians and community agencies leading, teaching and persuading others in highly stressful and volatile circumstances.
9. The analytical and interpretation skills necessary to conduct thorough patient assessments in highly complex cases and to assist in the development of the mental health component of multidisciplinary treatment plans.
10. The organizational skills necessary to prioritize multiple assignments independently.
11. The written communication skills necessary to document patient assessments according to payor criteria.
12. Thorough knowledge of the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
13. Ability to consistently type clinical documentation into EMR at an average of 45 WPM.