Clinical Intake Specialist

Clinical Intake Specialist – Hillcrest Home Care

Hillcrest Health & Living is looking for an organized, clinically knowledgeable, and relationship-focused Clinical Intake Specialist to join our Hillcrest Home Care team.

We would love to find an LPN or RN in the Bellevue, NE area who can stay closely connected to our local Home Care team and referral partners. However, for the right candidate with strong home health, intake, referral, admissions, or care-coordination experience, we are open to considering a fully remote arrangement.

The position is considered full-time at 32 or more hours per week, providing some flexibility while still serving as an integral part of the Hillcrest Home Care team.

At Hillcrest, our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives. As a Clinical Intake Specialist, you will help ensure patients receive the right services at the right time by reviewing clinical referrals, navigating insurance requirements, coordinating admissions, and creating a positive experience for patients, families, and referral partners.

What You'll Do

As the Clinical Intake Specialist, you will be responsible for the timely clinical review, planning, and coordination of referrals received by Hillcrest Home Care. You will also help coordinate services for current clients who are re-admitted to the hospital and support the Home Care team in managing referrals from initial receipt through admission.

You will:

• Review and process assigned home health referrals according to established clinical, admission, and financial criteria.
• Complete clinical reviews and determine appropriate placement based on patient needs and established admission guidelines.
• Communicate promptly and professionally with hospitals, providers, discharge planners, referral sources, patients, and families.
• Build strong relationships with referral partners by providing timely, accurate information and excellent customer service.
• Screen referrals, gather necessary clinical information, and complete required intake steps according to established workflows.
• Accurately enter and maintain referral information within CRM and electronic health record systems.
• Verify insurance coverage, eligibility, and required authorizations for referred patients.
• Clearly communicate insurance and eligibility information to patients, families, and appropriate team members.
• Complete the pre-admission process and provide an organized handoff to the Home Care team for scheduling and start of care.
• Coordinate communication when current Home Care patients are re-hospitalized.
• Work with hospital discharge planners to support timely and appropriate transitions back to home health services.
• Monitor referral status and proactively follow up on missing information or barriers that could delay admission.
• Work closely with the Home Care team to improve referral conversion, support census goals, and reduce avoidable referrals not taken under care.
• Maintain referral-management reports, re-hospitalization tracking, census information, and other operational tools.
• Provide backup clinical referral support, including clinical review of community-based referrals and associated insurance authorizations.
• Educate referral partners on Hillcrest services and the continuum of care when appropriate.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient health, financial, and personal information in accordance with HIPAA and Hillcrest requirements.
• Participate in service-line initiatives focused on quality outcomes, referral management, and reducing re-hospitalizations.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines clinical knowledge with exceptional organization and follow-through.

The right candidate will be able to review clinical information, understand the needs of patients transitioning from acute or post-acute care, communicate confidently with healthcare professionals, and manage multiple referrals without losing track of important details.

While candidates in the Bellevue, NE area are preferred, we recognize that the right person may be located elsewhere. Candidates with strong relevant experience who demonstrate the ability to work independently, communicate consistently, and stay closely connected to the team may be considered for a fully remote arrangement.

Ideal candidates will have:

• An active LPN or RN license and a strong clinical foundation.
• Experience in home health, acute care, post-acute care, skilled nursing, clinical intake, case management, care transitions, utilization review, admissions, or a similar healthcare setting.
• Strong understanding of the healthcare continuum and patient transitions between levels of care.
• Previous experience with home health admissions, intake, or referral management preferred.
• Ability to review clinical documentation and make accurate, timely decisions based on established admission criteria.
• Experience working with insurance verification, eligibility, and authorization processes preferred.
• Strong communication skills with hospitals, providers, discharge planners, patients, families, and internal clinical teams.
• Exceptional organization and the ability to manage multiple referrals, deadlines, and follow-up items simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail with clinical information, documentation, insurance requirements, and data entry.
• A self-directed work style with strong accountability and follow-through.
• Ability to identify barriers, solve problems, and keep referrals moving forward.
• Strong customer-service instincts and a professional, relationship-focused approach.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team while working independently.
• Comfort learning and becoming highly proficient in CRM, electronic health record, hospital referral, and other healthcare technology platforms.

Education & Credentials

• Associate degree required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in Nebraska or an applicable Nurse Licensure Compact state required.
• At least two years of healthcare experience, including exposure to acute and post-acute services, preferred.
• Previous experience with home health admissions, clinical intake, referrals, or care coordination strongly preferred.
• Candidates working remotely must meet applicable licensure requirements for the position.

Why Hillcrest?

The transition from a hospital, rehabilitation setting, or other level of care into home health can be complicated. Patients and families are often navigating clinical needs, insurance requirements, new services, and important decisions all at once.

The Clinical Intake Specialist helps bring those pieces together.

Your work will help ensure referrals are reviewed quickly, clinical information is complete, barriers are addressed, communication stays clear, and patients can begin home health services without unnecessary delays.

This is also a unique opportunity for an LPN or RN who wants to use their clinical knowledge in a different way. Instead of providing bedside care, you will use your nursing background to review clinical information, coordinate admissions, solve problems, and help patients successfully access home health services.

We would ideally like this person to be based in or near Bellevue, Nebraska, but we are open to the right candidate working remotely if their experience, communication style, and ability to work independently make them a strong fit for the team.

What Hillcrest Offers

• Competitive compensation.
• Full-time schedule starting at 32+ hours per week.
• Bellevue, NE area candidates preferred, with remote flexibility available for the right candidate.
• Multiple health insurance plan options.
• Vision, dental, and life insurance.
• Professional development support, including tuition reimbursement, certifications, and career-growth programs.
• Dayforce Wallet, allowing you to choose when you get paid.
• Gym membership reimbursement and partner discounts.
• Supportive leadership and a collaborative Home Care team.
• Opportunity to use your LPN or RN experience in a non-traditional clinical role.
• Opportunities to grow within a mission-driven senior care organization.

Remote Work & Other Requirements

• Candidates in or near Bellevue, NE are preferred.
• Remote candidates must be able to work effectively and independently while maintaining consistent communication with the Hillcrest Home Care team.
• Remote team members must maintain reliable internet access and an appropriate workspace for handling confidential patient information.
• Must be responsive and available during established working hours to support referrals and communication with healthcare partners.
• Must be able to speak, read, and write English.
• Must be flexible, calm, and professional when working with patients, families, referral sources, or healthcare professionals in stressful situations.
• Must be able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced intake environment with strong attention to detail.
• Must be able to utilize CRM, electronic health record, hospital referral, insurance, and other healthcare technology systems efficiently and effectively.
• Must maintain confidentiality of patient, financial, organizational, and health information in accordance with HIPAA and Hillcrest requirements.
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