Psychiatrist - Assertive Community Treatment

JOB SUMMARY:

To promote the mission of PATH to help individuals achieve a more independent and fulfilling life by being an effective team member. This member of the ACT multidisciplinary team, the Psychiatrist, in conjunction with the Director, has overall clinical responsibility for monitoring client treatment and staff delivery of clinical services. The Psychiatrist provides psychiatric and medical assessment and treatment; clinical supervision, education, and training of the team; and development, maintenance and supervision of medication and psychiatric and medical treatment policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of accredited Medical School.
• Board Certified or Board Eligible in Psychiatry.
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.
• Possess valid PA state license to practice medicine prior to start.
• Ability to use an electronic health record, including E-Prescribing and E-Lab software.
• Must be available or scheduled emergency on-call service and will be required to carry a mobile phone during regularly scheduled working hours and scheduled on-call service as essential personnel may be required to report to work during emergencies including inclement weather.
• Valid Driver's License required.
• COVID-19 vaccination, or willingness to receive vaccine required.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Provide psychiatric services to all clients served on the ACT team.
• Conduct psychiatric assessments including psychiatric history, course of illness, response to treatment, mental status examination, and DSM diagnoses and present assessment results at daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
• Supervise the treatment team in the comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and response, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships.
• Collaborate with the registered nurses in assessment of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinating medical treatments with psychiatric treatment.
• Prescribe psychotropic medications and conduct regular assessments of therapeutic responses and side effects and educate clients regarding psychotropic medications.
• Perform individual, group and family supportive therapy and psychotherapy and illness education in the process of carrying out the tasks above.
• Along with other team members, provide support, education, and counseling to family members of clients to help them become knowledgeable about mental illness, collaborate in the treatment process, and assist in their family member’s progress.
• Provide on-site crisis assessment and management of patients during regular work hours, both on-site and over the phone, after hours, and as on-call backup to the first-line on-call staff.
• Be actively involved in both acute and long-term psychiatric inpatient treatment of clients including initiation and facilitation of admission to the hospital; regular communication and consultation with the attending psychiatrist; visits to clients in the hospital; and along with other team members, collaboration with the inpatient staff in the planning and implementation of treatment and discharge to the community.
• Submit written reports and oral testimony and presentation of opinion in commitment and other legal proceedings and in a wide range of treatment, rehabilitative, and support services matters (e.g., Social Security application, prior authorization of medication, etc.).
• Regularly attend daily organizational staff meetings to monitor patient status and progress, to coordinate treatment activities, and to develop treatment solutions to problems other staff are having.
• Participate in and supervise treatment planning meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Frequent talking and listening. Requires the ability to lift, carry, hold, kneel, reach, stack, stoop and bend.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.