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Intake Coordinator I - Signature Services

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you talked with someone who was upset or in distress. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Calm, empathetic communication with people who may be struggling.

How do you protect patient privacy when you're on the phone in a shared space?

What they are checking: Whether they have practical HIPAA habits, since intake calls often happen within earshot of other people.

What would you do

A caller mentions they have been thinking about hurting themselves. What do you do?

What they are checking: Knowing to treat safety concerns as urgent and follow the escalation protocol right away.

A referral source keeps sending incomplete paperwork. How do you fix the pattern?

What they are checking: Solving the root problem with the referral source instead of chasing each case one by one.

A caller is not a good fit for the program. How do you tell them while still helping?

What they are checking: Delivering a no kindly while pointing the person toward the right care.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd handle a first phone call with someone seeking mental health services.

What they are checking: Whether they can gather intake information warmly while keeping the call organized and on track.

How do you make sure the clinician has every needed record before the appointment?

What they are checking: Follow-through on documentation, which keeps appointments from being wasted.

How would you verify a patient's insurance eligibility, and what do you do if coverage is unclear?

What they are checking: Basic insurance verification skills and knowing when to flag issues early.

How do you track referrals so none of them slip through the cracks?

What they are checking: A real system for follow-up, since lost referrals mean people go without care.

What do you know about community mental health resources in the Chicago area?

What they are checking: Familiarity with referral options when a patient is not a fit for the service.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Intake Coordinator I reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Intake Coordinator I supports the clinician by performing the preliminary clinical intake and referral functions for potential department patients. Responsibilities: • Conducts initial phone contact, clinical intake and triage. • Ensures all relevant and necessary clinical documentation is received and available to the clinician prior to the scheduled appointment. • Assists with insurance eligibility verification. • Documents and tracks referrals. • May perform other duties as assigned. Required • Bachelor's degree in psychology or related area of study OR 4+ years of relevant experience in a healthcare setting. • 0-2 years of experience in mental health administration or indirect patient care. Preferred • Basic knowledge of community mental health resources and/or referral sources. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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