Associate Medical Director – Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine

JOB SUMMARY

Brief Description: Under the direction of the Chief Clinical and Wellness Officer (CCWO), the Associate Medical Director of Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine (AMD) provides clinical leadership and program oversight for both psychiatry and addiction medicine services. The AMD is responsible for delivering high-quality, compassionate care to assigned patients of the El Dorado County Community Health Center and for advancing evidence-based approaches to psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensure clinicians receive ongoing training and support.
• Serve as liaison for all new EDCHC providers to explain Behavioral Healthcare Services and how to refer.
• Provide ongoing training and support to all clinicians in the areas of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
• Serve as champion for ongoing clinic improvement initiatives and activities.
• Communicate with all providers about updates to Behavioral Healthcare, and how to ensure proper use of the services.
• Conduct routine performance evaluations and chart reviews of clinicians in collaboration with the CCWO.
• Resolve clinical or clinician concerns or issues that may arise.
• Lead the development of clinical policies, protocols, and standards in partnership with the CCWO.
• Collaborate with clinic leadership to ensure overall excellence in patient care.
• Attend, participate in, and lead committees, chart reviews, and other meetings as assigned by the CCWO.
• Support CCWO with additional activities as needed to ensure clinical and organizational success.

Physician Duties

• Assume responsibility for the care of their patients, including providing direct psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and preparation of treatment plans including pharmacotherapy.
• Monitor and document progress in treatment.
• Cookordination treatment with PCP and other patient clinicians within a team approach.
• When a patient's condition is stable, psychotropic treatment may be prescribed by PCP based on psychiatric complexity.
• Engage with psychotherapists to ensure continuity of care, including crisis intervention as needed.
• Provide direct care for a panel of addiction medicine patients as needed, delivering evidence-based substance use disorder treatment consistent with best practices.
• Perform procedures, minor surgeries, and highly difficult medical work within the scope of their training.
• Integrate the work of the clinic with other programs in the center and community to assist clients.
• Act as Supervising Physician for FNP and PA-C provider staff (Non-Physician Providers), signing the Center's FNP protocols and PA-C DSA agreements.
• Available for consultation with such staff for unusual or difficult medical problems.
• Engage multidisciplinary team as needed regarding patients in psychiatric and addiction medicine treatment to ensure continuity of care.
• Serve as consultant to medical providers as needed regarding psychiatric care, substance use disorder treatment, and co-occurring conditions.
• Share in office call coverage for the Center on an as-needed basis.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge in the practice of medicine relevant to the Center's clients, in relation to the Physician's Board Certification.
• Adapt medical treatment and orders to the needs of uninsured and low-income clients, always with Best Practices in mind.
• Ensure that all protected health information (PHI) in local computer/networks is stored in compliance with HIPAA regulations as specified in the Provider Agreement.
• Order relevant lab ss and procedures with appropriate consent to help diagnose or manage a patient's condition.
• Receive and review lab reports, providing feedback to clients and/or consultation to primary therapist as needed.
• Coordinate communication during the following situations:
  • Call if they are going to be late;
  • Sign out clients to the appropriate clinician/clinic staff for call or follow-up;
  • Give appropriate notice as required by EDCHC for time off;
  • Respond to messages in a timely manner during working hours and while on-call as needed.
• Establish and maintain good relationships within the healthcare community.
• Carry out such other duties as assigned by the CCWO.
• Complete and submit all billing in an agreed-upon timely manner.
• Attend continuing education programs and provide evidence of necessary education completion to upgrade skills and maintain licensing requirements.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as required or requested.

Knowledge Of

• Current, standard psychiatric and addiction medicine care practices, treatments, ss, and therapies.
• Current therapies in addition to complying with CA State requirements for Continuing Medical Education.
• Current knowledge of clinical operations and the delivery of quality medical care consistent with a licensed care physician, certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
• Third party payers issues, California medical practice guidelines and malpractice laws, Title 22 regulations, Bureau of Primary Care and funding sources preferred.
• Current and emerging trends in technologies, techniques, issues, and approaches in area of expertise.
• Scope of practice laws regarding professional licensure and Center Protocols and Standardized Procedures.
• General information about federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding scope of practice issues affecting licensed community clinics.
• Basic information about public and private health insurance and third-party reimbursement issues.
• Community resources related to specialty care and other health-related services.

Skills In

• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Excellent, efficient and effective use of the eCW EMR system.
• Exercising good judgment in clinical decision making and client care.
• Maintaining a positive, flexible, and solution-focused attitude.
• Quickly synthesizing medical, psychiatric, and addiction medicine data and formulating effective and evidence-based clinical recommendations.
• Using a computer for word processing, data entry and e-mail.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting.
• Speaking and understanding Spanish highly desirable.

Requirements

• Qualifications: Experience At least 3 years of recent experience in a busy outpatient behavioral health practice, including psychiatry and/or addiction medicine, serving multigenerational, multicultural clients is required.
• Experience with primary care psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, or addiction medicine.
• Experience working with underserved, transient populations and clinical co-morbidities (co-occurring mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems).
• Experience in a non-profit rural community clinic setting is preferred.
• Speaking and understanding Spanish is desirable.

Education And Licensing Requirements

• Board Certification in Psychiatry required; Board Certification in Addiction Medicine strongly preferred.
• Candidates with Board Certification in Psychiatry and demonstrated addiction medicine experience will be considered.
• Completion of a nationally accredited Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program.
• Current California State Medical License, without any limitations to practice in the area of specialty; must be in good standing with the California State Medical Board.
• Current BLS certification.
• Current DEA.

Other Physical Requirements

• Normal health center/interior office environment.
• See, hear, talk, walk or move about, sit and/or stand for long periods of time, reach, stoop, bend, lift up to 50 lb.; transfer clients of any weight; repetitive hand movement; use and view a computer; use a calculator, operate fax, copier, telephone and car.