Substance Use Navigator

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Conducts bedside engagement of ED patients identified with substance use concerns using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches.
• Establishes rapport and builds 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.
• 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.