Admission Director

Job Description

Job Description

Admissions Director – Nursing Home

Location: Elizabeth NJ
Employment Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday–Friday, with occasional evenings/weekends as needed

About the Position

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and highly motivated Admissions Director to join our nursing home team. The Admissions Director will be responsible for managing the admissions process from referral through admission, maintaining and increasing facility census, building strong relationships with hospitals and referral sources, and ensuring that every new admission has a smooth and well-coordinated transition into the facility.

The ideal candidate is organized, professional, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the nursing home admissions process from initial referral through resident admission.

• Maintain and grow facility census by actively following up on referrals, identifying admission opportunities, and working closely with referral sources.

• Monitor daily census, bed availability, pending admissions, discharges, and anticipated vacancies.

• Coordinate with Nursing, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other departments to ensure rooms are clean, prepared, furnished, and fully ready prior to each resident's admission.

• Confirm that the assigned room is ready and appropriate for the resident before the scheduled admission time, including necessary equipment, supplies, and safety requirements.

• Communicate anticipated admissions to the appropriate departments in advance to ensure the facility is prepared for the resident's arrival.

• Review referrals, medical records, and supporting documentation to determine appropriateness for admission in collaboration with the clinical team.

• Communicate with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physicians, social workers, discharge planners, case managers, residents, and families.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with hospitals, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other referral sources.

• Respond promptly to admission inquiries and referral opportunities.

• Coordinate insurance verification, authorizations, and required admission documentation.

• Ensure all admissions comply with facility policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations.

• Coordinate closely with Nursing, Social Services, Business Office, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other departments to prepare for new admissions.

• Conduct facility tours and provide prospective residents and families with information about the facility and available services.

• Follow up with referral sources and maintain accurate records of referrals, pending admissions, and completed admissions.

• Participate in marketing, networking, and community outreach activities to increase referrals and census.

• Maintain excellent customer service and professional relationships with residents, families, referral partners, and healthcare professionals.

• Maintain confidentiality and protect resident privacy at all times.

• Perform other duties related to admissions, census development, and business development as assigned.

Census & Admission Readiness

The Admissions Director will play a key role in maintaining the facility's census and ensuring that the building is operationally prepared for every new admission. This includes:

• Tracking current and projected census on a daily basis.

• Identifying available and anticipated rooms for new admissions.

• Communicating upcoming admissions to the appropriate departments.

• Following up to ensure rooms are cleaned, inspected, and properly prepared before arrival.

• Coordinating with the clinical team regarding equipment, supplies, special needs, and other resident-specific requirements.

• Ensuring there are no avoidable delays in the admission process.

• Following up after admission to ensure the transition was completed successfully.

• Working proactively with referral sources to maintain a consistent admission pipeline.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a nursing home, skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center, healthcare admissions, or healthcare marketing preferred.

• Experience with census development and referral management strongly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of the healthcare admissions process and documentation.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and follow-up skills.

• Ability to work effectively with residents, families, healthcare professionals, and referral sources.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Professional, positive, proactive, and compassionate approach.

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and insurance authorization processes is a plus.

• Experience with long-term care or skilled nursing facility regulations is preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience

• Paid time off

• Opportunities for professional growth

• Supportive and collaborative work environment

• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and their families