Job Description

​Admissions Counselor – East Tennessee Behavioral Health

East Tennessee Behavioral Health is a 90-bed inpatient treatment center serving Knoxville, Tennessee, and the surrounding communities. We provide the highest-quality care for people who have mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder and those who have co-occurring addictions. The acute inpatient treatment we offer supports adolescents, adults, and senior adults, while our outpatient programming serves adults age 18 and older. Our comprehensive treatment includes group therapy, individual counseling, family therapy, detox, medication management services, and basic medical care. Specialty services include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for those who are struggling with severe depression symptoms. With a focus on long-term healing, we deliver personalized care with compassion and respect.

https://www.riverplacebh.com

We are looking to hire a facility Admissions Counselor for East Tennessee Behavioral Health

The Admissions Counselor plays a vital role in facilitating the admission process for patients seeking treatment, ensuring a smooth, compassionate, and efficient experience from the first inquiry through admission. This position requires strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to balance administrative and therapeutic responsibilities in a fast-paced behavioral health environment.

The Admissions Counselor responds to inquiries in a timely and professional manner, conducts pre-admission assessments, verifies insurance benefits, and coordinates with medical and psychiatric teams to ensure appropriate placement and continuity of care. The role also involves completing pre-authorizations, maintaining accurate medical documentation, and ensuring that all admissions meet facility and regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to patient safety while supporting individuals and families during critical decision-making moments. This position is key to ensuring that every patient receives the right level of care and that their transition into treatment is handled with care, accuracy, and compassion.

Seeking

• ​Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN
• One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.
• Current licensure, as required for the area of clinical specialty, i.e., current RN license, CAC or other clinical counseling or therapy license, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.

Why Join

• Competitive compensation with industry leading annual performance-based bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match to support your financial future
• Stock-based awards, giving you a stake in Acadia’s success
• Generous paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays
• Professional development & leadership training to sharpen your skills
• Career mobility within Acadia

Responsibilities

​ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• ​Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
• ​Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• ​Perform benefit eligibility to ensure patient benefits are active at the time of admission. Communicate benefit eligibility to the business office and the patient or significant other.
• ​Collaborate with other facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations regarding pending referrals.
• ​Coordinate admission and transfer from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility.

• ​Maintain knowledge of milieu management.
• ​Communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives promptly.
• ​Ensure all clinical information from referral sources or patient (including medical comorbidity information) is received, when possible, prior to patient admission.
• ​Schedule (when applicable) and complete pre-admission assessments, consult with the admitting physician, and communicate disposition recommendations to patient or their family.
• ​Possess skill in preparing and maintaining appropriate medical record documentation that will result in authorization at the level of care being requested of the payor.

• ​Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission prior to admission, when possible, and within payor timeframe guidelines.
• ​Admit patient in the registration and accounting system. Complete all admission and consent forms with the patient.
• ​Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards 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 required (if state allows).
• ​Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN preferred.
• ​Three or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.

• ​Experience in the managed care pre-certification process, level of care assessments and utilization preferred.

​LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• ​Current licensure, as required for the area of clinical specialty, i.e., current RN license, CAC or other clinical counseling or therapy license, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
• ​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.

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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