Full-time Manager of Intake/Admission Services

At Houston Hospice, we focus on caring, not curing. We take a team approach to care that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, hospice aides, volunteers, and bereavement counselors. We provide hospice service wherever patients and families need us: in their home, in a long-term care facility, or in our inpatient care unit that is based in the Texas Medical Center. Our team of doctors and nurses specialize in managing pain and symptoms that are unique to life-limiting illnesses.

Summary: 

The Hospice Care Access Manager plays an important role in helping patients and families begin their hospice journey with comfort and confidence. This position oversees and coordinates everything related to referral intake and the admissions process, making sure each person who reaches out to us receives timely, compassionate, and seamless support.

In this role, the manager guides the intake and admissions team, helping them stay organized, responsive, and aligned with both regulatory standards and the organization’s processes. They work closely with referral partners, clinical teams, and leadership to keep communication clear and consistent, ensuring that all patients and their families receive the education/services needed.

At its heart, this role is about opening the door to compassionate care. By ensuring that people in need can access hospice services quickly and smoothly, the Hospice Care Access Manager helps uphold the organization’s mission and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, in nursing preferred
• Five years’ minimum management experience. Admissions and/or intake experience required. Hospice/palliative care experience preferred.
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills. 
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Must possess a clear and concise understanding of admissions and intake processes.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to travel to multi-work locations or patient locations as needed during workday.
• Knowledgeable in applicable Federal/State laws governing home health and hospice licensure
• The ability to cope with family emotional stress and tolerance of individual lifestyles.
• Good communications skills, both oral and written.
• Computer skills including excel, word, PowerPoint and other applicable software.
• Understanding of hospice philosophy of care.
• Must have reliable vehicles, valid Texas driver’s license and liability insurance

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Communicate accurate information in a professional manner to referral sources, potential patients/family, the public, payer sources and the staff of Houston Hospice.
• Supervision of intake and admission department functions and staff, including hiring, 90 day and annual evaluations, counseling, scheduling, and training with coordination of Manager.
• Assists with patient visits when necessary, presenting information/consents.
• Ensure overall operations of Intake and Admissions department in conjunction with federal and state regulations, organizational policies and procedures and patient/family needs, including all consents and legal documents. Oversee communication with staff, physicians, and prospective clients regarding hospice services and appropriate admission criteria.
• Act as department liaison in meeting patient and agency needs with positive outcomes for all concerned.
• Coordinate Intake/Admissions activities including maintaining current admission referral board with appropriate assignment of personnel.
• Evaluation of referral information ensuring timely admissions of hospice-appropriate individuals.
• Facilitate the smooth flow of information to, from and within the Intake department to promote effective communication and the accurate submission of reimbursement information while promoting protection of patients HIPPA rights
• Building and maintaining positive working relationships with referral sources, payer sources, admission team, marketing and the Interdisciplinary Teams.
• Oversee continued education of staff and other health care professionals as appropriate
• Communicate with the manager if unable to complete a referral and assign admission staff.
• Communicate with long-term care/hospital staff to assure positive patient/family admission outcomes.
• Understand and adhere to organizational compliance and privacy programs.
• Assist in providing service that fosters the organization’s mission, values, vision and goals.
• Perform other duties as requested/required by management.
• Facilitate timely admission of the hospice appropriate patient, meet licensing, federal and state regulations relating to admissions
• Build and maintain a strong relationship with referral sources and agency staff.
• Process all information requests and referrals for hospice services.
• Oversee submission of information ensuring appropriate service reimbursement.

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