What Is a Clinical Liaison?

A Clinical Liaison is a professional who connects healthcare providers—such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation centers—with patients and referral sources. Their role is primarily focused on patient admissions, business development, and relationship management, all while utilizing their clinical expertise to assess patient needs and match them with appropriate levels of care.

They act as a bridge between clinical care and administration, often working in post-acute care settings such as:

• Inpatient rehabilitation hospitals

• Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)

• Home health or hospice organizations

• Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs)

What Do Clinical Liaisons Do?

While responsibilities can vary by employer, here are common duties of a Clinical Liaison:

• Patient Evaluations: Reviewing medical records and sometimes performing in-person assessments to determine if a patient is appropriate for a specific facility or service.

• Referral Management: Building and maintaining relationships with physicians, discharge planners, and case managers to generate patient referrals.

• Marketing & Outreach: Promoting the services of their facility or organization to hospitals and community partners.

• Coordination of Care: Working with admission teams to ensure smooth transitions of care.

• Documentation & Reporting: Ensuring all referral and evaluation information is accurately documented to meet compliance and operational standards.

Who Makes a Great Clinical Liaison?

Many Clinical Liaisons come from backgrounds as:

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

• Physical Therapists (PTs)

• Occupational Therapists (OTs)

• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

• Social Workers or Case Managers

They often have strong interpersonal skills, clinical knowledge, and a knack for communication and problem-solving.

Why Consider a Career as a Clinical Liaison?

• Less physically demanding than bedside care

• Greater work-life balance in many cases

• Opportunities for remote or hybrid work depending on the employer

• Valuable experience in sales, marketing, and healthcare operations

• Ability to still make a direct impact on patient outcomes and care transitions

This role is ideal for clinicians who want to stay connected to patient care without the demands of direct treatment.

Find Clinical Liaison Jobs and Career Help on Non-Clinical Gig

If you're ready to explore a new path as a Clinical Liaison—or any other non-clinical healthcare career—head over to the Non-Clinical Gig Job Board. You’ll find up-to-date job listings in fields like clinical liaison, utilization review, health tech, education, and more.

Need help getting started? Non-Clinical Gig also offers professional resume help, interview prep, and 1-on-1 career coaching to help you confidently transition out of patient care.

Ready to pivot into a non-clinical role that still uses your clinical brain? A career as a Clinical Liaison could be your next big move—check out current openings and career support services at Non-Clinical Gig.