Merit Health River Region
Outreach Representative
Vicksburg
,
MS
Full Time
Job Summary
The Outreach Representative is responsible for promoting behavioral health services by responding to inquiries, conducting pre-admission assessments, and coordinating the intake and referral process. This role supports timely and appropriate admissions, strengthens relationships with referral sources, and helps educate patients, families, and providers on available services. The Outreach Representative plays a key role in facilitating access to care and ensuring continuity across the behavioral health continuum.
Essential Functions
The Outreach Representative is responsible for promoting behavioral health services by responding to inquiries, conducting pre-admission assessments, and coordinating the intake and referral process. This role supports timely and appropriate admissions, strengthens relationships with referral sources, and helps educate patients, families, and providers on available services. The Outreach Representative plays a key role in facilitating access to care and ensuring continuity across the behavioral health continuum.
Essential Functions
- Responds promptly to inquiries and referral requests from patients, families, physicians, and other referral sources.
- Conducts pre-admission screenings to determine eligibility and readiness for admission, collaborating with clinical teams when needed.
- Provides education about behavioral health services to patients, families, and community partners.
- Coordinates the intake process, ensuring appropriate documentation and timely communication with internal departments.
- Works closely with referral sources to promote hospital services, strengthen relationships, and improve access to care.
- Tracks patient referrals and admissions data for internal use and to inform outreach efforts.
- Supports development and implementation of outreach goals and objectives in collaboration with leadership.
- Maintains familiarity with psychiatric care resources, including outpatient, inpatient, community-based, and government-supported services.
- Collects and reviews customer satisfaction survey data from referral sources to support program improvement initiatives.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- Bachelor's Degree in a healthcare, behavioral health, or related field required
- 1-2 years of experience in behavioral health, healthcare outreach, case management, or intake coordination required
- Knowledge of behavioral health services, admission criteria, and care coordination processes.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with patients, families, clinicians, and community partners.
- Ability to organize and manage multiple inquiries, referrals, and follow-ups in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with local community, governmental, and non-profit resources for mental health and substance use support.
- Strong presentation and public speaking skills to engage with referral sources and community stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity in all interactions.