Staff Psychiatrist

About the role

The Psychiatrist performs highly advanced psychiatric assessment work and reports directly to the State Hospital Medical Director. Work involves conducting psychiatric activities, monitoring trends, diagnosing, and treating State Hospital patients. Administers quality and appropriate specialized psychiatric treatments, assessments, and procedures as needed. Reviews and analyzes system data to ensure recovery plans are individualized and decisions are made in conjunction with the Recovery Team. Ensures that the recovery plans are implemented as designed by providing consultation or training as needed to direct care staff. Attends weekly/monthly meetings and leads/chairs discussions to inform and create buy-in to necessary changes and follows through on the implementation plans. Participates in committees of the State Hospital Governing Body and performance improvement activities. Participates in or directs, as requested, any other clinically related committee that is formed for the State Hospitals to recommend guidelines and standards of care in response to changes in research literature, regulatory environment, or public health as requested by the State Hospital Medical Director or State Hospitals Central Administration Chief of Medical Services. Plans, assigns, and guides the work of others in the process of the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. May supervise others depending upon State Hospital structure. Performs other duties relative to the position. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Attend work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to complete psychiatric assessments of individuals and administer psychiatric treatments and medications within the State Hospital policies/procedures as deliberated with and agreed upon.
• Conduct all required performance improvement reviews with recovery team members as required by The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and State Hospital System policies.
• Attend and participate in other meetings and committees as requested.
• Perform medication reviews and other audits in accordance with policy.
• Plan, assign, and guide the work of others in the process of the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care per standards.
• Establish physician-patient relationship by direct face-to-face contact or telemedicine. For newly admitted individuals, contact must be established immediately upon admission.
• Treat each individual with the most effective medication and the most effective dosage.
• Review lab work, modify recovery plans, and record deliberations and recommendations accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Develop and implement psychiatric recovery plans documenting how supports and interventions are customized for the individuals' psychiatric needs as well as their strengths and preferences.
• Document how recovery plans are person centered and least-restrictive interventions based on risk vs. benefit analysis and treatment history, and how psychiatric supports and interventions are integrated with the supports and interventions from other disciplines.
• Develop and organize implementation timeframes and provide guidance to the recovery team, and direct care staff while following HHSC and local policies and procedures, TJC standards, CMS conditions of participation, TAC and other state statutes.
• Read and analyze medical records, lead discussions in staff meetings, participate in conference calls concerning clinical psychiatric issues, and interact with and make recommendations to family members, guardians, and Legally Authorized Representatives (LAR) when requested, and obtain timely medication consents.
• Ensure collaboration between psychiatry and neurology for dually diagnosed individuals. Provide Neurologist with necessary information and ensure that psychiatry notes reflect this collaboration.
• Consult with other psychiatrists, medical staff, psychologists, and others to collaboratively develop psychiatric interventions, identify environmental factors that may impact psychiatric care, and participate in restraint reduction efforts by coordinating medication and behavior therapy.
• Manage acute psychiatric care including authorizing emergency restraints and writing orders for the emergency use of medication.
• Review and monitor system data and trends related to the quality of psychiatric care provided at the State Hospital. Address issues identified through monitoring of data and present changes to the recovery plan.
• Attend meetings and chair discussions to inform and create buy-in to necessary changes and follow through on hospital performance improvement plans.
• Participate in desk and onsite audits by reviewing records and applying audit tools.
• Maintain open and regular communication with the Medical Director, Superintendent, and other staff to ensure the transfer of needed information for the continuity of services.
• Participate in various Medical Staff Committees and Sub-committees (Utilization Management, Infection Control, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, etc.) designed to ensure patients are receiving quality care.
• Participate in mandatory training per HHSC policies and procedures, HIPAA policies, state and federal rules and regulations, and TJC standards and CMS conditions of participations to provide quality psychiatric services and care to individuals served.
• Develop, implement, organize, and provide leadership in the area of Psychiatric Services following HHSC policies and procedures, state and federal rules and regulations, and TJC standards and CMS conditions of participations in order to provide quality psychiatric services and care to individuals served.
• May manage other staff providing regular feedback, conducting performance evaluations, and taking corrective action when needed, depending upon hospital organizational structure.
• Perform other duties as assigned including but not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Qualifications

• Applicant must have or be able to obtain an unrestricted Texas medical license and be board certified or board eligible (completed residency in Psychiatry) prior to appointment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of methods and procedures in the field of general medicine and general psychiatry
• Knowledge of principles of the development, implementation, and documentation of person-centered individualized care and recovery plans
• Knowledge of the principles of psychiatric treatment and ability to work collaboratively with staff
• Knowledge of the state formulary guidelines for maximum doses, and if exceeded, provides detailed documentation of exception, ensuring efficacy, safety, and tolerance
• Knowledge and skills in providing services to people with psychiatric disorders in an in-patient hospital setting
• Knowledge and skills in effectively using an electronic healthcare system and Microsoft Office products
• Skills in the care and treatment of patients
• Skills in the use of medical and psychiatric diagnostic and treatment tools and equipment
• Skills in conducting psychiatric research when necessary
• Ability to assess, diagnose, and prescribe/supervise treatment to assigned patients while conforming to local policy, Texas Administrative Code, and applicable laws to decrease psychiatric symptoms/disorders
• Ability to direct psychiatric activities
• Ability to examine, diagnose, and treat mental disorders
• Ability to interpret psychological diagnoses and analyses
• Ability to develop policies and procedures
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of psychiatric histories and medical records
• Ability to solve medically difficult issues by considering opinions of consultants and/or appropriate literature including accepted guidelines
• Ability to work with the recovery team by facilitating a unified, effective team approach using the expertise of all team members and involving patients in order to assure high quality patient care
• Ability to participate with other psychiatric staff to provide continuous quality improvement and to promote quality care by adhering to the plan of improvement and state initiatives
• Ability to manage "polypharmacy" and to justify and document when the use of multiple psychotropic medications is necessary
• Ability to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others
• Ability to work independently using good judgement and advanced time management skills
• Ability to participate in annual training as well as any other required specific training in order to assure up to date skills and knowledge in required areas such as CPR and safe use of restraints
• Ability to organize and present information effectively, both orally and in writing

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Generous time off benefits
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement

Schedule

Day shift (First). Telework eligible.

Pay

$20,971.00 - $23,120.50 monthly