Crisis Intervention Associate - Sinai Hospital at LifeBridge Health – Baltimore, Maryland

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for non-clinical functions associated with evaluation and placement of psychiatric patients in the Emergency Departments at Sinai and Grace. Searches previous Medical Records and identifies bed resources for inpatient hospitalization. Contacts third party payors and provides demographic and other patient data to procure authorization and approval for treatment. Assists the Emergency Psych Evaluators (EPE) staff with other related non-clinical tasks in support of psychiatric evaluation and disposition of ED patients. Coordinate and support the EPE staff at Sinai and Grace with all CIA responsibilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Searches and identifies bed resources for patients requiring inpatient hospitalization.
• Monitors bed availability on LifeBridge Health inpatient psychiatric units, staying in ongoing communication with unit staff and psychiatrist on call as necessary to confirm and update.
• Searches State Psychiatric Bed Registry for hospitals with available beds meeting patient's clinical requirements as specified by EPE and psychiatrist.
• Supplements Bed Registry information as necessary by contacting other hospitals to obtain updated bed status information.
• Confirms bed availability and facilitates information flow necessary to effect timely inpatient admission.
• Communicates with LBH psychiatrist, unit staff, and Bed Control to arrange admission to LBH bed.
• Facilitates signing of all necessary forms.
• Contacts psychiatric admissions staff at other institutions to verify bed availability and negotiate acceptance of ED psychiatric patient.
• Copies and faxes patient documentation relevant to admitting unit's ability to make final admission decision.
• Ensures conveyance of all required documents that must accompany the patient to the admitting psychiatric unit.
• Procures authorization and approval for treatment from third party payors.
• Obtains patient's insurance information.
• Contacts third party payor to request authorization for treatment.
• Provides third party payor with required demographic patient information.
• Communicates clinical information as noted by EPE and/or psychiatrist in patient medical record.
• Coordinates with EPE should additional clinical information need to be provided to third party payor directly by clinician who assessed patient in order to justify need for admission.
• Documents insurance authorization or attempts to procure such in the patient medical record.
• Communicates with clinical colleagues, ED staff, patients, families and Department Management.
• Communicates with EPE and psychiatrist regarding placement and insurance issues for psychiatric patients in the ED who require inpatient hospitalization.
• Keeps EPE continually informed of progress in identifying bed resources and obtaining insurance authorization for individual patients and promptly notifies EPE of any impediments requiring higher level intervention.
• Coordinates with ED registration staff as necessary to obtain and/or verify patient insurance coverage.
• Assists EPE with updating and communicating treatment resources for patients being discharged from the ED with recommendation for outpatient follow-up.
• At EPE direction, may assist in communicating status of psychiatric evaluation and disposition efforts to patients and/or their families.
• Assist with coordination and utilization of the telehealth process. Attends to various administrative tasks. Monitors/maintains Emergency Psychiatry office supplies and forms.
• Enters daily ED patient statistical information into excel spread sheet. Alerts program Manager/Practice Manager to any office issues that need to be addressed.
• Coordinate and support the EPE staff at Sinai and Grace with all CIA responsibilities.

REQUIREMENTS:

• 1 year of experience preferred
• Bachelor's degree preferred