Job Summary

Provides treatment for patients with behavioral health and/or addiction treatment needs for adult patients on the inpatient psychiatric inpatient service and outpatient psychiatric clinic. Responsible for providing the full range of care to patients by examining, diagnosing, and treating patients and their families. The purpose of the work is to treat a wide range of medical and psychiatric problems, which affect the health, and well-being of patient and families served, and to provide physician leadership for the department in providing the best possible quality, safety, service, and stewardship of resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide medical/psychiatric care provided in the behavioral health, mental health, and addiction settings on the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services.
• Direct care physician coverage for behavioral health and related programs.
• Supervise and evaluate physician-extenders and students or residents assigned to behavioral health program settings as directed by the Medical Director.
• Provide medical supervision and evaluation of Clinical Psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (MSWs) as assigned.
• Refers only the very difficult cases to another specialist.
• Provides for medical aspects of behavioral health care needs of patients in the inpatient setting.
• Instructs patients on specific treatment.
• Transfers patients to Cherokee Indian Hospital inpatient or elsewhere for admission as needed.
• Refers patients to contract hospitals for medical care and surgery not provided at Cherokee Indian Hospital.
• Evaluate patient through conversations, interviews, and observation.
• Administer patient tests or request testing/lab work; analyze patient data and results.
• Set patient’s goals and discuss treatment plans.
• Functions as Team Leader in multidisciplinary health care setting. Works collaboratively with other health care professionals to improve systems of patient care.
• Participates in Cherokee Indian Hospital meetings and committees to develop new, and modify existing, medical policies and procedures relative to patient care with the objective of improving the quality of patient care.
• Maintains patient records in a consistent and organized format utilizing the patient care component of the resource and patient management systems (IHS-RPMS/EHR).
• Promptly completes forms directly related to patient care, which must be completed by a physician. This includes inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room records.
• Completes hospital discharge summaries within allotted periods.
• Provides appropriate documentation to substantiate third party billing efforts. Follows Cherokee Indian Hospital procedures for third party billing. Abides by facility compliance plan.
• Observes and abides by the bylaws of the Cherokee Indian Hospital and the rules and regulations of the medical staff.
• Maintains professional certification through participation in appropriate programs of continuing medical education.
• The Cherokee Indian Hospital provides services 24/7. Some evening and weekend work is required as well.
• Call coverage by phone will be required to be shared with other staff psychiatrists.
• May be necessary to work when Administrative Leave is granted to others if patient care would otherwise be compromised.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education / Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university.
• MD or Doctorate degree from accredited college or university.
• Completion of a residency-training program in Psychiatry.
• Two years of post-residency experience as a psychiatrist facility preferred.
• Current medical license in State of North Carolina.
• Current ABPN certification.
• Current provider card in Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required.
• Current North Carolina Driver’s License.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Able to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Great interpersonal relations, communications, and demeanor.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain medical and conditions to a non-medical audience.
• Strong observation skills to accurately evaluate patients’ demeanor and identify symptoms.
• Professional knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices in the field of Psychiatry and the skill to apply this knowledge to difficult work assignments.
• Knowledge of the culture and medical health profile of the patient population.
• Professional knowledge of wide range of health principles, practices and processes including physical and mental health diagnosis, establishment of care goals, development and implementation of the care program and evaluation of the results.
• Ability to collect, organize, record and communicate in a concise method, data pertinent or primary health assessments including detailed family and medical history, physical examinations and selected laboratory tests.
• Ability to interpret special screening and diagnostic tests.
• Skills in making appropriate diagnoses, choosing, initiating and modifying current therapies.
• Ability to provide preventive service to healthy individuals including guidance in mental health and addictions and ability to teach individuals and families.
• Skills in working with groups for example guiding families in the development of general problem-solving ability regarding health problems, assisting with training health workers, and health counseling.
• Skills in making diagnoses and in choosing, initiating and modifying selected therapies.
• Ability to provide emergency treatment as appropriate such as management of suicidal or homicidal behaviors.
• A great bedside manner and the ability to remain calm, empathetic and patient while interacting with patients who suffer from severe disorders.

Complexity of Duties

The work consists of broad processes and functions in Psychiatry involving diagnosis and treatment of patients with an extremely wide variety of physical and emotional problems. The work is characterized by its intensity of effort and involves both episodic and preventive care carried on concurrently in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room settings. The work is often difficult to perform because of fear and skepticism by patients, undefined problems presenting in advanced stages and often-conflicting data. The work requires continued efforts to establish programs and to resolve chronic medical problems among the population served. The work my require originating new techniques and concepts.

Supervision Received

The Medical Director provides administrative directions with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions and functions. Has responsibility for planning and carrying out the work independently. Results of the work are considered as technically authoritative. Work is reviewed through a peer process for quality of services provided. Keeps the supervisor informed on controversial matters or far-reaching implications.

Responsibility for Accuracy

A high degree of accuracy is required in the proper care of patients. Undetected errors could have minimal to life threatening results. Work is reviewed retrospectively through quality audits.

Guidelines include IHS manuals, Cherokee Hospital policies and procedures, medical journals and textbooks, and Cherokee Indian Hospital Medical Staff bylaws, rules, and regulations. Guidelines are broadly stated. Professional judgment must be exercised to determine the proper course to be taken in the care of patients. In nearly all cases, the physician’s judgment is the key factor in determining whether guidelines are to be adhered to or deviated from or whether new guidelines need to be developed.

Contact with Others

Personal contacts are with patients and their families, other staff at the Cherokee Indian Hospital and satellite clinics, outside providers and administrative staff of referral hospital, and tribal representatives. Personal contacts are to elicit pertinent medical information from patients and to treat patients. Other contacts are to encourage and promote health regimens in an effort to improve health, to plan, coordinate or advise on work efforts, and to resolve operating problems. Contacts with patients’ families are to provide information on patient’s condition and to counsel family on care required. A significant amount of contacts involve resolution of problems in treatment of patients through discussion with consulting specialists, federal and state health officials, and patients’ families, each with their own set of beliefs, objectives and goals.

Confidential Data

The provision of medical/psychiatric care requires that the incumbent shall maintain strict appropriate confidentiality regarding all patient information. Will have access to patient records and highly confidential information. Must function with utmost integrity to safe guard this information. Complies with EBCI policy on confidentiality of patient records, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Confidentiality policy and HIPAA requirements. Violations of confidentiality regulations may result in disciplinary action.

Mental/Visual/Physical

Job duties can be mentally/emotionally stressful at times. Close mental concentration and attention to detail are required. Physical activities require the ability to walk, sit, reach, bend, and lift while assisting patients to walk, transfer, or turn. Some physical exertion and stamina is required. Must have visual acuity, manual dexterity, and the ability to speak and hear. Must be able to lift 30 lbs.

Environment

Works primarily in an inpatient care environment. The work environment involves moderate risks of exposure to infectious disease, radiation, electrical hazards, and irritant chemical and explosive gases. Employee must strictly adhere to OSHA guidelines and protocol for maintaining sterile conditions.

Customer Service

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients/customers by demonstrating characteristics that align with CIHA’s guiding principles and core values. Ensure excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking out opportunities to be of service.