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About the Role
The Outpatient Navigator supports continuity of care by guiding eligible patients transitioning from inpatient or residential behavioral health treatment into Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP), or other community-based services. This role ensures timely, informed referrals, facilitates coordination among inpatient and outpatient departments, and provides education and support to patients and families regarding post-discharge services. The Outpatient Navigator plays a vital role in increasing step-down engagement, reducing readmissions, and strengthening care transitions, and may also help facilitate direct admissions to PHP/IOP programs.
Responsibilities
- Own the full stepdown process—from patient identification to program admission.
- Meet every eligible inpatient and review open direct admission inquiries to facilitate referrals to outpatient.
- Educate patients and families on the value of continued care post-discharge and highlights of the hospital’s program.
- Maintain multiple in-person check-ins during patient’s inpatient stay.
- Support patients with outpatient orientation/program introduction.
- Partner with other hospital departments to facilitate step-downs.
- Participate in daily flash meetings to review emerging stepdown candidates.
- Track step-down admissions and conversion rate and trends over time.
- Identify barriers/opportunities to further enhance patient engagement and reduce readmissions.
- Report weekly progress to facility CEO, COO, and Director of Outpatient Services.
Requirements
- Minimum of 2 years in behavioral healthcare setting (e.g., acute psychiatric hospital).
- Experience with PHP and IOP levels of care, discharge planning, and/or utilization review.
Skills
- Understanding of levels of care, discharge workflows, and Acadia’s outpatient programs.
- Ability to facilitate direct admissions to PHP/IOP programs.
- Knowledge of clinical appropriateness for outpatient care.
- Understanding of benefits verification and copay clarifications.
- Familiarity with utilization review processes, including pre-certifications, renewal authorizations, denial appeals, and tracking days remaining.
- Ability to convey outpatient value proposition and key messages for patient engagement.
- Awareness of outpatient capacity and program compatibility.
- Ability to monitor performance metrics and identify areas for improvement.
Experience Level
- 2 years
Education Level
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Bachelor’s degree in social services-related field strongly preferred
- Licensed or license-eligible clinician (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LMHC, LMFT)
- Peer support specialist certification
Equal Opportunity
- We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.