Admission Unit Clerk, PM (Crisis Center) - AltaPointe Health

Overview

The Behavioral Health Crisis Center is strategically placed in Mobile County with easy access for the area with the highest need and the most frequent use, the midtown/downtown area of Mobile. This Crisis Center operates a 24/7/365 with a full complement of staff to provide crisis de-escalation and resolution no matter the time or the day.

A study of mental health related law enforcement calls shows that, as one of Alabama’s largest cities, Mobile has the highest demand for police and EMS within the I-65/I-165 corridor. Stationing the Diversion Center in this area will allow expeditious access from Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties, which will also utilize the Diversion Center. Mobile Metro Jail is the second largest jail in Alabama. The annual number of individuals booked into the jail is just under 20,000. Since the Stepping Up Initiative began last year, all inmates are screened for mental illness and substance use disorders. Last year 6,828 individuals screened positive for serious mental illness. This is a serious over-representation of mentally ill individuals per capita when compared to statistics for the general population. Most individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders are arrested for petty crimes. These individuals could be diverted from arrest with the addition of more Mobile Crisis response and a Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Based on data collected from Crisis Response Team calls, Access to Care, law enforcement, local emergency departments, and a Community Health Needs Assessments, the size and structure of the Crisis Center must consist of a large living room model staffed by peer specialists, an 18 recliner temporary observation unit, and a 6 bed extended observation unit.

Responsibilities

Admissions responsibilities:

• Ensures all releases are obtained and scanned into P.O.S. timely and accurately.
• Accurately populates all fields as related to the admission process in the Avatar system as related to the patients’ insurance and guarantor rankings.
• Researches all patients that present with no insurance through Medicaid and Medicare eligibility sites. Also research other insurance sites.
• Promptly responds to all Finance and Accounting requests to ensure prompt reimbursement.

Office professional responsibilities:

• Reviews documentation for any improper corrections, missing signatures, dates, times, etc. and monitors for completeness.
• Returns incomplete documentation to the program supervisor.
• Keys billing information on a daily basis from the DSR into the CSM system appropriately.
• Files documentation in the appropriate section of the consumers’ records as needed.
• Completes administrative review when needed.
• Performs basic clerical functions.
• Completes census management on a daily basis accurately and completely.
• Completes Compliance Checklists on a daily basis.
• Makes copies and faxes information as needed and checks fax regularly.
• Assembles charts and checks records for availability of forms.
• Notifies nurses of e-signature changes.
• Upon admission, accesses and prints medication lists and medical checklists for active consumers and places on charts.
• Notifies applicable staff of emergency situations in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Ensures the cleanliness and orderliness of the units.
• Assists with pulling and locating charts and with other requests.
• Maintains the chart tracking (charge-out) system to track the location of each record.
• Ensures all charts are accounted for and filed on the chart rack at the end of each shift and all signatures have been obtained on progress notes/orders. Restraints and Seclusion observation sheets.
• Distributes office supply orders for the unit and orders supplies as needed.
• As needed or directed, serves as back up for Floater.
• Submits lab orders as requested.
• Accesses labs on a daily basis, prints reports and places on appropriate charts for review.
• Ensures unit/nursing supplies are maintained at appropriate levels.
• Keeps Dietary informed of admissions.

Other duties that may be performed depending on facility:

• Pulls mail.
• Runs census.
• Checks for weekend admissions.
• Checks all room assignments.
• Discharges packets for receiving facilities including to ICF units to include Psychiatric evaluation, H&P, and Labs.
• Schedules court related appointments.

Supervision and consultation:

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvements.
• Actively works to enhance skills.

Courteous and respectful towards consumers, visitors and co-workers:

• Adheres to all 5 Star Customer Service guidelines when interacting with others.
• Treats consumer with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Respects consumers’ privacy and confidentiality.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Works in a cooperative manner with other AltaPointe employees.
• Assists consumer visitors and staff as needed.
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Is sensitive to the consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Is gentle and calm with consumers, families and others as appropriate.

Administrative and other related duties as assigned:

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Continuous sitting (extended sitting) up to 2 hours at a time until break or lunch.
• Reaching forward to place paperwork on a document stand.
• Grasping to turn keys in doors throughout facility, grabbing files/paperwork
• Lifting and carrying up to 15 pounds to transport small quantity of charts various distances in facility.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity for data entry, writing and handling paperwork.
• Standing and walking frequently throughout shift and to various locations in the facility to file charts and put up supplies.
• Sitting can be in frequent bursts up to 10 minutes.  Extended sitting can be up to, but limited to 1 hour.
• While filing in the medical records department, the employee may bend forward squat/lunge stoop or crouch to access the levels that are at floor waist level.  Forward bending while sitting or crouching to access safe in office may be needed.
• Forward reaching, reaching out to front, and overhead reaching with up to 5 pounds to 15 is performed when filing records and charts.
• Forward reaching, overhead reaching and reaching down while filing medical record that can range up to 15 pounds.
• Lifting various ranges from the floor to overhead throughout the day with up to 15 pounds (medical records and supplies).
• Frequent pushing/pulling with a force up to 25 pounds (medical record cart) and doors throughout the facility (5 pounds).
• Step ladder climbing frequently to access higher shelves for filing and stocking/retrieving supplies.
• Strong grasp/pinch grip needed to use keys in doors and to handle medical records.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity to use computer, write and handle medical records paperwork.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time, continuously bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach and lift at least 10 pounds.
• Must have visual acuity in at least one eye and manual dexterity.
• Any additional duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

High school graduate or equivalent.

Preferred applicants have experience in healthcare field, with experience relative to admissions and discharges.