Job Details

Overview

Access to Care is AltaPointe's access-to-care department and the single point of entry into the majority of AltaPointe's programs and services. Access to Care is responsible for coordinating consumer care throughout our continuum, which may include facilitating hospital admissions and outpatient appointments, verifying insurance coverage, making discharge arrangements following hospitalization and providing referrals and linkage to other community resources. Through a brief telephone screening, trained staff members assess an individual's needs for care, triage any crisis that the caller may be going through, and determine the most appropriate level of care and service. The team members' have behavioral healthcare experience and training. Their educational credentials include bachelor and graduate degrees in mental health disciplines or related fields.

Work Shift: Saturday & Sunday 4:00 pm-12:00 am (Alternating weekends)

Additional Coverage as needed.

Holiday Requirements: This staff will be responsible for working at least four holidays per year (holidays vary).

Responsibilities

Responsible for facilitating efficient and effective hospital referrals and screenings, including determining overall appropriateness for admission and assuring linkage to services and referral information as needed.

Facilitates appropriate hospital referrals and screenings

1. Responds to referrals in a timely manner from AltaPointe staff, family, court system, area hospitals, community providers, etc.
2. Coordinates, screens, and evaluates requests for hospital services based on, but not limited to, clinical criteria, risk factors, reimbursement, medical stability, etc.
3. Communicates and works closely with admitting physicians and local and AHS hospital, financial, and departmental staff, including the Hospital Admission and Referral Coordinator and Crisis and Hospital Coordination Specialist.
4. Reviews clinical, demographic, and payor source data, relevant hospital/medical paperwork, and EMR data to ensure accuracy, completion and communication of all information and documents.
5. Researches, verifies, and accurately populates EMR as related to the patient's insurance, applicable deductibles and co pays, and guarantor rankings as needed.
6. Provides outreach as needed to consumers/families regarding consumers in need.
7. Coordinates and communicates with AltaPointe programs and staff, medical staff, local hospitals and community providers as needed to ensure consumer continuity of care.
8. Completes reports as needed to ensure quality of services.
9. Ensures education of and linkage to referral and community resources as necessary.

Shift/Schedule Responsibilities:

1. Work assigned, regular shifts as scheduled
2. Work holiday rotation as scheduled
3. All hours in shifts that are assigned, including holidays, are the employee's responsibility/commitment
4. Employee must find coverage through co-workers in advance, with the supervisor's approval, if planning to trade holidays or other shifts previously assigned. Once the change is approved by the supervisor, it becomes the responsibility of receiving employee to keep the new shift commitment.

Supervision and Consultation

1. Seeks supervision and consultation as needed to actively enhance skills.
2. Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement.

Record Keeping

1. Documentation is complete, appropriate, and comprehensive.
2. Documents in a timely, clear, legible, and concise manner.

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, community, and co-workers

1. Treats consumers with care and dignity, including privacy and confidentiality.
2. Delivers five star customer service to both consumers, community, and AltaPointe staff.

Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned

1. Provides coverage as needed, including holiday assignments, and completes other duties as assigned in a timely manner.
2. Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities as needed.
3. Follows AltaPointe policies, procedures, and professional code of ethics.

Qualifications

Master degree in a behavioral health or related field (license preferred but not required), a registered nurse licensed under Alabama law or bachelor degree in behavioral health or related field with at least 18 months of related direct care field experience and expected to obtain master's degree within 6 months of employment; Must be highly organized, capable of multitasking, and excellent communication skills; Experience preferred in psychiatric emergencies and acute care services for children/adolescents/adults and crisis intervention, elements of a crisis state and how to deescalate, and knowledge of hospital admission protocols and placement criteria.

Knowledge in specialties, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment:

• Knowledge of different contractual agreements, program admission criteria and protocols, and funding sources for inpatient services;
• Knowledge of community and referral resources and contract compliance and accreditation standards;
• If applicable, per the above, attainment of master's degree in a behavioral health or related field