Assistant Director of Admissions

Overview

Sonora Behavioral Health, part of the Acadia Healthcare network, is seeking an experienced Assistant Director of Admissions to help lead and enhance our admissions operations. In this critical role, you will guide the admissions team, strengthen departmental processes, and ensure that individuals seeking care experience a supportive, efficient, and clinically sound entry into treatment.

If you are a collaborative leader with strong clinical insight and a passion for patient access, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day. The hours and schedule for this position at 6:00 pm - 2:00 am Monday thru Friday.

About Sonora Behavioral Health

Located in Tucson, Arizona, Sonora Behavioral Health provides comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, and crisis stabilization services for adolescents and adults. We are committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care supported by an experienced, multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership to the Admissions Department and cultivate the function of the department as an integrated team.
• Implement the strategic plan of the business development and marketing department as it pertains to admission to the facility and direct potential clients to treatment.
• Provide leadership in addressing quality management issues related to crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission to the facility.
• Assign/distribute scheduled evaluations, intakes, or admissions as dictated by request and hospital census.
• Conduct quality assurance and quality improvement programs for all crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission services.
• Perform follow-up communication functions and generate recommendations for organizational leadership.
• Provide orientation, in-service, and continuing education programs for department staff and other internal positions responsible for crisis triage and/or evaluation services.
• Serve as a clinical liaison with referral sources.
• Work to improve efficiency and quality in delivering services within the department, responsible for developing and meeting departmental goals and objectives.
• Ensure that the department is up to date on and compliant with new laws and regulations.
• Train and supervise staff.
• For assigned shift will plan, assign, supervise, and perform required duties to ensure patient safety and the efficiency of the department.
• Prioritization of potential admissions, considering patient needs and the facility’s capability and capacity to meet that needs in the most appropriate manner.
• Knowledge of appropriate clinical assessment, diagnoses, and interventions with patients.
• Provide guidance and direction to staff and encourage/build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Ensure that EMTALA log, if applicable, is completed for each patient seen by admissions.
• Participate in staff training by serving as a preceptor for new admission team employees.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers always.  When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints.  Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field is required.
• Master’s degree in a social services field or RN preferred.
• Two or more years’ experience in a healthcare admissions role is preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• May require licensure by the state for this position.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed to providing equal  employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

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