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The specialist receives and reviews behavioral health intake referrals, makes unit placement recommendations, and coordinates with crisis teams and unit staff to facilitate admission decisions. This role also involves verifying insurance authorizations, ensuring commitment documentation compliance, and arranging necessary patient transportation.
Requirements summary
A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services field is required, with a Master's Degree preferred, along with at least three years of direct clinical mental health/crisis intervention experience. Candidates must also possess previous experience with case management/utilization review and managed care models, along with strong computer and interpersonal skills.
Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees.
The employees of St.
Luke's are our most valuable asset!
Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.
The Crisis Intake and Referral Specialist processes referrals for admission to any of St.
Luke’s University Health Network Behavioral Health Inpatient Services.
Supports requests and assists other hospital services or external customers, in accessing the Network Behavioral Health Inpatient Services.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Receives and reviews completed behavioral health intake referrals from internal and external sources and makes unit placement recommendations to the appropriate inpatient behavioral health unit.
Interacts with the Network’s Crisis Intervention team / external sources and the Behavioral Health unit staff to facilitate admission decisions and placement, may need to coordinate with other crisis team members to assist with Emergency Department patient flow and appropriate placement issues.
Verifies insurances authorizations are completed and that the placement location is in network with the insurance carrier.
Obtains insurance authorization numbers upon arrival of the patient to the identified unit when needed.
Verifies inpatient commitment documentation (voluntary / involuntary) is completed to standard and is compliant with local county and department of health regulations.
Facilitates corrections with the referral source to assure compliance when needed.
Transportation arrangements discussed with the referral source and notification made to the accepting unit.
Responsible for obtaining insurance authorizations during the next business day for insurances that were closed overnight or due to holiday / weekend closures for patients processed by the Network’s Crisis Intervention staff.
Assist Crisis Workers with insurance authorizations and bed searches when patient volumes are elevated.
Demonstrates understanding and maintains knowledge of Mental Health regulations and procedures as they pertain to patient rights and status of admission (voluntary/involuntary).
Assists in the update of referral / resource / insurance information as necessary and requested by the manager.
PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: Sitting for up to 5 hours per day, 2 hours at a time.
Standing for up to 1 hour per day, 1 hour at a time.
Walking for up to 2 hours per day, 20 minutes at a time.
Occasionally uses fingers to turn pages.
Frequently uses hands to write, type, and hold charts.
Rarely uses the hands or fingers for firm grasping or twisting/turning.
Frequently uses upper extremities to lift and carry up to 10 pounds.
Hearing as it relates to normal conversation in person or on telephone.
Seeing as it relates to general vision, near vision, far vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.
EDUCATION: Mental health professional with a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field required.
Master’s Degree preferred.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Minimally, 3 years of direct clinical mental health/crisis intervention experience required.
Previous experience with case management/utilization review and managed care models required.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Basic computer skills – EPIC, word, excel, outlook.
Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address.
Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer.
Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable.
It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application.
Thank you for your interest in St.
Luke's!!
St.
Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Founded in 1872, St.
Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 23,000 employees providing services at 16 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites.
With annual net revenue in excess of $4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.
St.
Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St.
Luke’s Children’s Hospital.
SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.
It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital.
The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Premier 13 times total and eleven years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.
In 2021, St.
Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally.
St.
Luke’s is the ONLY health care institution in the Lehigh Valley to be named a Top Workplace regionally repeating the exclusive honor for the third year in a row.
Also, for the third straight year, St.
Luke’s has been a Top Workplaces in the Philadelphia Region by the Philadelphia Inquirer, ranking 9th in the large employer category for 2025 and the only health care system in PA to receive this award.
In 2025, St.
Luke’s was recognized as a national Top Workplaces by USA Today, three years in a row, including the 3rd best health care system in the nation in 2023 and 2024.
Lastly, in 2025, St.
Luke’s was named a Top Workplace in New Jersey for the third year in a row.
