Staff Psychologist - Home Based Primary Care

Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities are to practice independently in the provision of psychological services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation - teaching - training - and research activities. The VA Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program provides comprehensive - interdisciplinary primary care services in the homes of veterans with complex and chronic - disabling disease. In addition to primary care interventions - HBPC provides palliative care - rehabilitation - disease management - and care coordination services. HBPC targets veterans in advanced stages of chronic disease - particularly those at high risk of recurrent hospitalization or nursing home placement. Provide screening - assessment - diagnosis - and treatment of depressive and anxiety-related disorders - as well as other Axis I conditions - with an emphasis on the application of time-limited - evidence-based approaches. Assess and provide treatments for sub-clinical symptoms of dysphoria and anxiety - adjustment difficulties - & excessive use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs (for which the patient may have a lower than normal tolerance due to their medical conditions and the potential for negative interactions with prescribed medication). Provide psychological prevention services to patients at significant risk for psychological problems. Provide services to the families of veterans with dementia being served by HBPC - when such care is directly related to the overall treatment plan for the veteran and will allow better care for the veteran and allow the family to sustain the veteran in the home environment. For example - family members may be trained to better manage behavioral problems associated with dementia - such training may allow the HBPC team to reduce use of psychoactive medication as a means of controlling behavioral problems. Provide clinical services through the use of telemental health/telehome technology. Provide screening for cognitive deficits to address specific functional questions or to determine if a referral for a complete neuropsychological evaluation or dementia assessment is needed. Perform capacity/competency assessments when there are questions about a patient's ability to make