The Central Intake Clinician responds to inquiry call and/or emails/faxes. Conducts initial intake assessments, provides community referrals when appropriate, and coordinate admissions processes. Handles all aspects of managing the patient flow from the initial inquiry, assessment, documentation, internal and external communication and coordinates admission or referral to the appropriate level of care based on the patient’s clinical presentation. Complies with Joint Commission, Federal and State Regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures and Performance Improvement Standards.
Essential Functions:
- Responds to inquiry calls, completes inquiry forms accurately, completes assessments in a timely manner and documents follow up calls made regarding pending assessments.
- Makes every effort to honors all patient facility preference requests.
- Inputs all initial referral requests into EMR system to initiate insurance verification process to be completed on all perspective inquiries.
- Conducts phone assessments, completes Intake Screening and Assessment Part 1 thoroughly on all appropriate accepted patients.
- Uploads all pertinent referral documentation into document storage in EMR system.
- Refers patients who do not meet criteria for facility programs to appropriate community resources.
- Refers all patients that meet outpatient criteria to the nearest outpatient program available to them.
- Communicates with patients, families, direct referral sources, and internal Oceans personnel in professional manner sensitive to their age, disability and cultural needs.
- Delivers patient services in a respectful manner which promotes dignity and patient satisfaction.
- Identifies safety needs including ability to detect possible signs of abuse and neglect and report same to Supervisor on duty.
- Contacts emergency services on behalf of patients in crisis when necessary for wellness check, while keeping the patient engaged on the phone until emergency services have arrived, and patient is safe.
- Identifies special mobility and equipment needs of patients.
- Identifies need for interpreter services, when necessary, prior to admission and notifies accepting facilities of need.
- Assess and interprets age and disability needs to assess level of care needed and place patient at nearest appropriate facility that can accommodate the patient's needs.
- Communicates with providers in a professional manner to include all pertinent information regarding the patient's presentation for provider to determine acceptance or denial based on criteria provided.
- Communicates with patients and families in a manner sensitive to their age, disability and cultural needs and involves families of minors or significant others in decision making related to treatment as appropriate.
- Maintains real time progress of referrals and updates facilities, as necessary. Requests assistance from the facility Clinical Liaisons when necessary to obtain further collateral information from referral source.
- Performs other duties and projects as assigned.
Requirements
Educational / Experience Requirements:
- RN, LPN Paramedic or EMT licensure.
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in Mental Health/Chemical Dependency field preferred.
Qualifications / Skills:
- Understands admission criteria for varying levels of care, medications commonly prescribed for treatment of psychiatric illness and community resources.
- Interprets medical clearance and is able to discern acutely medical inappropriate values and how they should be addressed to be able to consider for admission.
- Must possess interpersonal skills to develop rapport with presenting patient, family members and referral sources.
- Must be able to assess and interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify each patient's needs and provide appropriate referrals, including age related care and disability related care by Chronically Mentally Ill, Adult, Geriatric and Chemically Dependent patient populations.
- Must demonstrate knowledge of mental illness and chemical dependency and family dynamics which accompany them.
- Must have excellent communication skills related to age specific patient needs.
- Must be able to demonstrate proficient assessment skills. Must be versatile, flexible and able to perform in stressful situations. Must have good time management and organizational skills.
- Must be able to work with an array of mentally/physically disabled persons. Must be able to read, to write and to follow verbal and written instruction.
Work Environment:
Subject to many interruptions. Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries. This position can be high paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically to atmosphere. This person might sometimes experience disagreeable odors, sights and/or unpredictable patient behavior. Work requires spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.