What are the responsibilities and job description for the Admission Coordinator - Special Needs Unit position at Desert Parkway Behavioral Healthcare Hospital?
We are seeking an experienced Coordinator to assess prospective patient needs and direct them to the appropriate special needs service or community resource.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Referral Screening & Eligibility Verification
- Reviews all incoming referrals for completeness and assesses appropriateness based on Special Needs Unit admission criteria.
- Verifies clinical, behavioral, safety, and insurance requirements to determine eligibility for SNU services.
- Meets with incoming patients or relatives to obtain pertinent data and verify insurance coverage.
- Communicates with managed care organizations to obtain insurance pre-authorizations in a timely manner.
- Communicates with referring providers to clarify missing or incomplete information.
- Redirects or recommends alternative services when referrals do not meet program criteria.
Parent/Guardian, DCFS, & Caregiver Liaison
- Serves as the primary point of contact for parents, legal guardians, DCFS caseworkers, foster caregivers, or other authorized representatives throughout the referral and intake process.
- Provides clear explanation of program expectations, required documentation, and next steps.
- Ensures all consents, releases of information, and legal documents are completed by the appropriate legal authority prior to admission.
- Obtains and verifies home medication lists, medical history, and other required intake materials from the responsible caregiver or agency.
Documentation & Compliance
- Initiates prior authorizations for treatment including single case agreements.
- Reviews all intake documents for accuracy and completeness prior to admission.
- Tracks outstanding documentation and follows up with families, providers, and agencies as needed.
- Ensures compliance with regulatory, legal, and organizational requirements related to pediatric and special‑needs populations.
- Enters the data of calls and assessments in the computer system in a timely manner.
- Distributes documentation of admissions to the Business Office, Admitting Unit and the Utilization Review Department.
- Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, or related field
- Active Nevada State Clinical License (RN, LCSW, LMFT, LCPC) preferred
- Inpatient experience preferred
- Familiarity with continuum of care and clinical terminology
- Current CPR certification
A full benefits package is available the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Desert Parkway offers competitive benefits to include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401K Retirement Plan
- Healthcare spending account
- Dependent care spending account
- PTO Plan with holiday premium pay
- Discounted cafeteria meal plan
- Life insurance (including plans for spouse and children)
- Short- and long-term disability (with additional buy-in opportunities)
- Pet Insurance
- Identity Theft Insurance