MGR BEHAVIORIAL ADMINISSIONS AND CARE COORDINATION

Manager of Behavioral Health Admissions and Care Coordination

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Peninsula Overview: 

Peninsula Behavioral Health, a division of Parkwest Medical Center and part of Covenant Health, is a leading provider of mental health services in East Tennessee. With decades of experience, Peninsula offers compassionate, evidence-based care for children, adolescents, and adults through inpatient and outpatient programs across multiple counties. From psychiatric treatment and therapy to specialized senior care, Peninsula is committed to helping individuals overcome mental health challenges and live healthy, productive lives. 

To learn more about Peninsula Behavioral Health and our units, visit Peninsula Behavioral Health Opportunities.  

Position Summary:

Manages comprehensive admissions, supports utilization management, and discharge planning operations for inpatient psychiatric services at Covenant Health. Leads a multidisciplinary team to provide seamless care coordination from initial referral through post-discharge follow-up, ensuring appropriate level of care determinations, regulatory compliance, and optimal patient outcomes. Serves as primary liaison with emergency departments, mobile crisis units, and community partners to optimize patient flow and reduce barriers to access. Drives business development through strategic outreach and relationship building with referral sources to expand appropriate utilization of psychiatric services.

• Supervises, develops, and evaluates behavioral health intake coordinators, utilization management staff, and discharge planning personnel. Ensures appropriate 24/7 staffing coverage, manages scheduling, and recruits and onboards new team members.
• Manages the intake and assessment process for all psychiatric referrals, ensuring timely response, accurate level of care determinations, and appropriate alternative placements when inpatient admission is not indicated. Serves as clinical escalation point for complex admissions decisions.
• Manages admissions volumes, wait times, bed availability, and referral patterns. Implement process improvements to optimize patient flow and reduce delays in accessing care.
• Supports utilization management activities to ensure medical necessity criteria are met, length of stay is appropriate, and documentation supports continued stay determinations. Collaborates with clinical teams, physicians, and insurance payors to facilitate authorizations and address denials.
• Monitors utilization and quality metrics including average length of stay, denial rates, and readmission rates. Identifies trends and implements interventions to improve outcomes and reimbursement.
• Oversees comprehensive discharge planning to ensure patients transition to appropriate levels of care with necessary support services and follow-up appointments. Develops and maintains relationships with community providers, outpatient programs, and residential facilities.
• Monitors discharge metrics including delays, readmission rates, and post-discharge follow-up completion. Addresses barriers and implements strategies to improve care transitions and patient satisfaction.
• Ensures all operations comply with Joint Commission standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, state regulations, and organizational policies. Maintains readiness for regulatory surveys and accreditation reviews.
• Develops, implements, and monitors adherence to department policies, procedures, and clinical protocols. Updates documentation as regulations and best practices evolve.
• Partners closely with emergency departments across Covenant Health's facilities to optimize behavioral health patient flow, reduce boarding times, and ensure timely psychiatric assessments and placements.
• Develops and maintains relationships with referral sources including emergency departments, primary care practices, outpatient behavioral health providers, mobile crisis units, law enforcement, and community agencies to promote appropriate utilization of services.
• Conducts outreach and education to external partners regarding admission criteria, referral processes, and available services. Represents the behavioral health service line at community meetings and collaborative events.
• Identifies opportunities to expand referral networks and grow appropriate admissions volume. Gathers feedback from referral sources to identify service gaps and enhance the referring provider experience. Tracks referral patterns, market trends, and competitor activities to support strategic planning.
• Manages department budget, monitors expenses, and identifies opportunities for operational efficiency.
• Analyzes data and trends to inform decision-making and resource allocation. Prepares reports and presentations for leadership as requested.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:           

Bachelor’s degree in social work, Nursing, Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral health field from an accredited program.

Minimum Experience:         

Five years of progressive clinical experience in behavioral health settings, including at least two years in a supervisory or leadership role. Experience in psychiatric hospital admissions, utilization management, or care coordination required.

Licensure Requirement:

None. Tennessee license (RN, LCSW, LPC, LMFT) and Utilization management certification preferred.