Physician Assistant

Full Job Description

Peaks Recovery Centers is looking for a compassionate individual who wants to join an ever growing substance use and mental health treatment team. We have one part time position available. The primary schedule for the part time position would be two days a week, with one weekend a month. Ideally, Monday and Tuesday would be the scheduled days of coverage, but we have some flexibility. Family Nurse Practitioners are also welcome to apply.

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Behavioral Health Physician Assistant to join our team. This role involves utilizing a variety of person-centered, culturally sensitive treatment approaches to work with a diverse client population. As a Behavioral Health Physician Assistant, you will play a vital role in promoting and maintaining the mental health of our clients by providing medical services under the supervision of a Physician. You will be responsible for delivering effective behavioral health therapy to clients, improving their overall functioning, and preventing the need for higher levels of care.

GENERAL PURPOSE: Utilizes a variety of person centered, culturally sensitive treatment approaches to work with a diverse client population. Service goals include: promoting and maintaining the mental health of our client’s by providing medical services under the supervision of a Physician, providing effective behavioral health therapy to clients to improve their functioning and to prevent a higher level of care; linking clients to other health services when needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assessment, diagnosis, case management, continuing care assessments and planning, treatment planning,, referral assessments, documentation, discharge planning, recovery education instruction, relapse prevention, and outpatient level of care.

• Contributes to the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Directors effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range patient care issues that must be addressed; providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations; recommending options and courses of action; implementing physician directives.
• Assesses clients mental health by conducting a psychiatric assessment upon intake.
• Assesses clients physical health by interviewing patients; performing history and physical examinations; and reviewing pertinent previous medical documents.
• Determines abnormal conditions taking history, obtaining laboratory results, and interpreting test results.
• Documents client care services by charting in the client’s records within Kipu.
• Completes on call duties that include equitable weekday calls and weekend rounds.
• Educates and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens; providing counseling on emotional problems of daily living; promoting wellness and health maintenance.
• Prescribes and orders client medications based on the psychiatric assessments and client needs.
• Protects clients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.
• Helps develop the clinical care of the client by sharing the mental and/or physical assessment findings of the clients assessment.
• Conducts mental health status examinations, substance abuse/dependency status examinations, and diagnostic assessment to establish medical necessity for treatment..
• Meets the PRC standard for:
• Client Care Hours
• Missed Appointments
• Completion of documentation in the client chart within the electronic medical record system, KIPU.
• Deliver person centered, culturally sensitive evaluations, and trauma informed care as defined by position.
• Maintains client charts/documentation according to the standards outlined in Clinical Records Management Policy & Procedure and the Assessment, Treatment Planning, DAP Progress Notes Discharge and Aftercare Planning Policy & Procedure of PRC.
• Attends staff meetings, in-service meetings, peer reviews, supervision sessions, and other meetings as requested/required per week.
• Participates in the design of client services through needs assessment and discussion with team members and Supervisor.
• Collaborates with and refers to other health agencies within the community to coordinate client care.
• Works cooperatively and constructively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

CENTER-WIDE ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for keeping client information confidential by adhering to Colorado law, HIPAA (Federal Law), and PRC policies and procedures.
• Responsible for compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws; professional practice acts and ethical guidelines; policies and procedures of PRC; and contractual guidelines.
• Responsible for supporting PRC Mission, Vision, and Purpose by practicing and modeling a culture of wellness within a One Team Mindset.
• Completes all clients records in Kipu, PRC electronic clinical records, as requested/required.
• Completes required competency training and additional training as required.
• Reviews and acknowledges PRC policies and procedures as requested/required.

MISC. DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

• May be assigned to community consultation and education projects.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education or Formal Training

• Completion of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) upon completion of Master’s Degree.
• Maintain professional licensure and certifications as required.
• Colorado State License or License eligible.
• One year post graduate experience preferred.
• Training in conducting mental health status examinations in order to establish differential diagnosis and treatment plans.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability: (include materials and equipment directly used)

• Possesses a working knowledge of individual, group, family, and crisis treatment approaches and their application to clients with emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorder problems.
• Demonstrates knowledge and application of patient centered medical skills.
• Has ability to produce written documentation and/or electronic records of clinical work in a manner readily understood by other service providers and in a manner that meets federal, state, and PRC documentation requirements.
• Health Promotion and Maintenance.
• Thoroughness and Medical Teamwork.
• Physiological Knowledge with a great Bedside Manner.
• Infection Control and Prevention.
• Knowledge of prescribing and administering medication.
• Ability to summarize service themes from a variety of client contacts and communicate suggested improvements for service delivery.
• Ability to do mental status exams and differential diagnoses based on DSM, service planning, assessment case management and treatment.
• Ability to assess level of risk and make appropriate clinical judgment for resolution of client emergencies to effect a safe outcome.
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills.
• Ability to enter data on the PRC computerized record keeping system, Kipu.
• Knowledge of psychotropic medications and medical information relevant to mental disorders.
• Ability to understand and utilize collaborative documentation when clinically justified and as requested by the client.
• Ability to interact with people in a professional, friendly manner.
• Ability to work independently as well as cooperatively and constructively in an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to think critically and independently.
• Ability to realize and activate potential in every interaction, every day.
• Ability to adapt to change in the workplace.
• Ability to use change as an opportunity for innovation and creativity.
• Ability to inspire and model collaborative teamwork.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Works extended hours in front of a computer monitor.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
• May need to provide services in noisy and unclean locations in the community.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $62.50 – $73.50 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee assistance program
• Life insurance
• Professional development assistance

Medical Specialty:

• Addiction Medicine
• Psychiatry

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Mental Health & Addiction Treatment: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• PA or NP License with DORA (Required)

Work Location: In person