Substance Use Navigator

Ochsner Health System; Shreveport (LA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Ochsner Health System in Shreveport, LA seeks a Substance Use Navigator to engage ED patients with SUD, linking them to treatment and harm reduction services. Role emphasizes non-judgmental support, rapid referrals, and collaboration with ED and behavioral health teams.

The SUN may leverage lived experience where appropriate to build trust, reduce stigma, and support pathways into care, including follow-up after discharge.

Qualifications

• Education: high school diploma or GED required; social services or health-related degrees preferred.
• Experience in healthcare, behavioral health, or community outreach is desired.
• Lived experience with substance use or recovery encouraged; ability to use it appropriately.

Responsibilities

• Conduct bedside engagement with ED patients using trauma-informed, person-centered approaches.
• Screen, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) activities.
• Educate patients and families on SUD, harm reduction, and treatment options.
• Facilitate referrals to MAT, peer support, and community services; coordinate with care teams.
• Document interactions and referrals in the electronic health record; support follow-up outreach.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal communication

Motivational interviewing

Patient advocacy

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Associate's/Bachelor's in Social Services/Behavioral Health/Public Health

Job description

The Substance Use Navigator (SUN) serves as a front-line resource in the Emergency Department (ED), engaging patients with substance use disorders (SUD) through compassionate, non-judgmental support. This role facilitates rapid linkage to treatment, harm reduction services, and community-based resources to improve patient outcomes and reduce repeat ED utilization. The SUN may leverage lived experience with substance use and recovery, when appropriate, to build trust, reduce stigma, and support patients in navigating treatment and recovery pathways. May be required to work variable shifts, including overnights, weekends, and holidays, to support Emergency Department opearations.To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Education

• Education Required - High School Diploma/GED
• Preferred - Associate's Degree/College Diploma Social Services, Behavioral Health, Public Health, or related field
• Preferred - Bachelor's Social Services, Behavioral Health, Public Health, or related field

Work Experience

• Work Experience Required - 1 year Healthcare, behavioral health, social services, community outreach, or related area.
• Preferred - Personal lived experience of substance use and sustained recovery (or experience supporting a loved one) are strongly encouraged; must be able to use lived experience appropriately in a professional, clinical setting.
• Experience working in an Emergency Department, crisis, behavioral health, addiction treatment, community outreach, peer support, or case management setting.
• Familiarity with medication-assisted treatment / medications for opioid use disorder referral pathways.
• Experience working with populations experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, justice involvement, or other social needs.

Certifications Preferred

• Preferred - Certified Peer Support Specialist/Peer Recovery Specialist
• Preferred - Commuity Health Worker (CHW) certification
• Preferred - Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training
• Preferred - Crisis prevention-de-escalation training

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Commitment to patient-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care. Ability to engage diverse patient populations in high-stress environments. Strong interpersonal, communication, and motivational interviewing skills. Knowledge of substance use disorder, recovery principles, and harm reduction strategies. Maintains working relationships with community treatment providers, recovery organizations, and social service agencies to support timely patient linkage. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in documentation. Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality. Proficiency with electronic health records, basic computer applications, and accurate documentation workflows. Recognizes safety concerns and escalates patient behavioral health, intoxication, withdrawal, or crisis situations according to department protocols. Emotional resilience and ability to manage challenging or emotionally charged situations.

Job Duties

• Conducts bedside engagement of ED patients identified with substance use concerns using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches.
• Establishes rapport and build trust with patients, including those in crisis or ambivalent about treatment.
• Performs screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) activities.
• Educates patients and families on substance use disorder, harm reduction strategies, and available treatment options.
• Facilitates real-time referrals and warm handoffs to inpatient/outpatient treatment programs; medication-assisted treatment (MAT) providers; peer support and recovery services; community and social support resources.
• Coordinates with ED clinicians, social workers, case managers, and behavioral health teams to support care plans.
• Documents all patient interactions and referrals accurately within the electronic health record (EHR).
• Assists with follow-up outreach (phone calls, care coordination) to support continuity of care post-discharge.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, case reviews, and program improvement efforts.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of substance use treatment resources, community programs, and regulatory requirements.
• Supports tracking of referral completion, warm handoff outcomes, follow-up contact attempts, treatment linkage, and repeat ED utilization metrics as required by program leadership.
• Performs other duties as assigned Complies with all policies and standards

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time. Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards. This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns. The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Physical and Environmental Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible. Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue. The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain communicable diseases. The incumbent has an occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases. Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.

The Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana provides healthcare to more than 140,000 patients across North Louisiana with 600,000 clinic visits annually. There are more than 20 locations, including North Louisiana’s onlyLevelITraumaCenter and LevelII Pediatric Trauma Center at its acute care hospital, a newly renovated hospital with women's and children's servicesin Shreveport, La. and an acute care hospital in Monroe, La. designated as a LevelIII Trauma Center. Ochsner LSU Health has more than 4,200 employees that work alongside the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Physician Group of 950 physicians and residents in more than 65 specialties and subspecialties.