Assessment Director

Job Description

Director ensures a comprehensive assessment and quality therapeutic care to patients seeking treatment of substance abuse, dual diagnosis or psychiatric or emotional disorders. Oversees the assessment of the needs of walk-in and phone callers and completes initial psychiatric assessment on patients seeking treatment. Supervises the answering and answers all inquiry calls regarding treatment and the facility, presents treatment options, documents calls and sets appointments for callers seeking treatment. Creates, revises, and implements the schedule of the assessment and referral office. Assesses the needs of walk-in and phone callers to ensure their referral to the service or resource to best address those needs. Completes initial psychiatric assessment and presents symptoms to psychiatrist for best recommendation of care. Interprets treatment to patient and family to help reduce fear and other attitudes obstructing acceptance of care and continuation of treatment. Refers and triages patients to other sources of treatment when appropriate. Answers all inquiry calls regarding treatment and the facility, presents treatment options, documents calls and sets appointments for callers seeking treatment. Assesses, coaches and develops team skills in assessment, patient and family interaction and overall therapeutic care. Acts as part of overall Hospital leadership team. May supervise reception.

Qualifications
Education: Master's degree in social work, counseling or related field required or licensed degree per state of practice guideline. RN licensure may be used per state of practice guidelines.
Experience: Previous management experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience working in assessment for chemical dependency, dual diagnosis, psychiatric and geriatric patients. Must have strong clinical assessment skills.
License: Current unencumbered clinical social work, counselor or RN license or per state requirements. Valid driver's license and a favorable Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), along with proof of insurance when using own auto.
Additional Requirements: CPR certification and Crisis Prevention Training (CPI) within 30 days.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE
Compliance
• Understands and adheres to hospital compliance plan and code of conduct.
• Respects confidentiality at all times; follows HIPAA guidelines for disclosing information.
• Adhere to facility, department, corporate, personnel and standard policies and procedures.
• Treats all patients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity and respect.
• Always appears professional. Wears name badge at all times. Adheres to uniform standards if applicable.
Teamwork• Takes initiative to helps the team, is flexible when asked to assist in other areas.
• Consistently demonstrates positive and affirming behaviors even when addressing conflict or stressful situations.
• Demonstrates concern for overall team and understands how actions affect others. Shows a positive attitude and contributes to maintaining an enjoyable and productive work environment.
• Does not engage in any unfavorable behaviors such as rumors, inappropriate conversations, etc.
Customer Service
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining a clean, safe environment. Demonstrates knowledge of the facility and services provided.
• Greets all customers in a positive manner and demonstrates sensitivity to customer's needs.
• Answers telephone appropriate to department guidelines and avoids excessive transfers.
• Provides superior customer service while never crossing therapeutic boundaries.
• Demonstrates ability to listen to patient/customers regarding problematic issues in in a non-defensive manner.
Accountability• Adheres to attendance requirements. Utilizes correct procedure for taking time off.
• Attends departmental and staff meetings as required.
• Is accountable and shows pride in work; strives to do more than the minimum required. Shows initiative and completes work in a timely and accurate manner.
• Acknowledge mistakes and demonstrates willingness to learn and correct them.
• Demonstrates passion and hustle in all work.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Directs and performs the screening of potential patients for admission into the program and initiates the integrated assessment process.
As a clinician, assists administration, physicians, and clinical staff in the assessment of pending admits to determine appropriateness of level of care and communicates pending admissions to the nursing department.
Uses the approved admission criteria and make recommendations concerning the level of care for treatment using the least restrictive level appropriate. The plan for episode of care is initiated at admission to all levels of care.
Functions as a liaison between physicians and families, coordinates with transportation services, and other mental health facilities to organize the admission procedures.
Ensures that all vital patient assessment information is referred accurately to the attending physicians, and that patient historical information obtained is complete to facilitate an accurate determination for the appropriate level of care.
Communicate with external reviewers and referral sources and conduct all required external reviews and maintain documentations of all such interaction while following HIPAA guidelines.
Ensure that third-party payors are notified of, or participate in, decisions about appropriate transitions between levels of care
Prepares morning meeting reports to communicate pertinent census information, referral sources, and pending admissions.
Consistently provides services to current referral sources to assure their satisfaction and continued associations.
Assesses, coaches and develops teams' skills, holds team accountable to high standards
Knowledgeable in all CMS, JCAHO, EMTLA, and State regulations and standards of performance. Regularly audits function to ensure compliance.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPECIAL DEMANDS
1. Ability to sit and stand (one-third of the shift) and walk (two-thirds of the shift).
2. Ability to reach above, or below waist height, kneel, bend, stoop, turn, and twist (occasionally to frequently).
3. Ability to see well enough to read charts, treatment plans, and typewritten materials.
4. Ability to hear well enough to detect noise on the unit and have the ability to discern odors.
5. Ability to frequently push/pull wheeled carts from 100 to 200 pounds.
6. Ability to frequently lift and carry.
7. Ability to manipulate small and large tools (electric thermometer, telephone, wheelchair, blood pressure cuffs, paper punch, staplers, copy machine, etc.)
8. Ability to work at a rapid pace and perform a variety of repetitive duties.

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.