Physician Assistant – Psychiatry (PA)

Job Type: Full-time
Experience: 2 – 3 years (Preferred)
Location: Katy/Sugar Land, TX/Hybrid“Hybrid work is a working arrangement whereby the location from which employees work is flexible.

Position Summary:

Under the leadership of the Medical Director and/or Assistant Director, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and/or Physician Assistant (PA) is responsible for providing care to patients with acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. Setting for patient care will include both inpatient and/or outpatient facilities as scheduled. Duties include the evaluation and treatments of patients including, but not limited to, performing initial and follow up psychiatric assessments; initiating, renewing, and changing medications; ordering routine laboratory, radiological, and diagnostic tests and providing initial interpretations of results; initiating or expediting requests for consultations, special tests or studies; evaluating and initiating therapy for acute and chronic mental health problems; providing education and training (individual or groups) to the patient and family as necessary; and communicating clinical findings to Physicians. Duties also include documenting all findings and results in the Electronic Medical Record.

Important dimensions of this position consist of excellence in patient care through observation, assessment, nursing judgment, communication skills and interpersonal relations. Must have demonstrated critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making ability and able to work independently.

Experience:

• Advanced psychiatric nursing: 2-3 years (Preferred)
• Physician Assistant: 2-3 years (Preferred)
• Substance use disorder: 2-3 years (Preferred)

Special Requirements for Consideration:

• Treatment of veterans with PTSD;
• Treatment of sexual assault/abuse victims;
• Must be willing to work on call during evening hours and weekends if necessary
• Must have flexibility with regularly scheduled hours and weekends between inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Skills & Specifications:

• Providers must have received specialized training and experience in Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (EBP);
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) for PTSD;
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, chronic pain and insomnia;
• Ability to perform each position responsibility satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position;
• Must be computer literate with ability to enter information in the concept of EMR/EHR systems;
• Must be able to read, write and speak English;

Required Credentials:

Graduation from a state certified advance practice program specializing in psychiatry/mental health; ANCC certification in one of the following areas:

An unrestricted license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN); An unrestricted DEA registration in Texas; A Texas Controlled Substance Registration (CSR); Registration with the state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) in each state where direct services will be provided (if required by state); No suspension/exclusion/debarment from participation in federal health care programs (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP);

Position Responsibilities:

• Functions independently to complete psychiatric evaluations and assessments medical, and social history on all residential patients; performs complete physical exams;
• Interprets and integrates data to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan;
• Performs admission histories and psychiatric assessments;
• Performs rounds, referrals, and interprets diagnostic studies;
• Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities;
• Functions independently to perform patient medication assessment;
• Manages ongoing care through consultation with the Psychiatrist and/or Medical Director;
• Conducts initial assessments, to include, histories for new patients;
• Establishes and manages treatment plans;
• Orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to patient needs;
• Collaborates with the Medical Director in managing acute and long-term medical needs of patients;
• Maintains, reviews, and signs off on patient records, charts, and other pertinent information accurately and efficiently;
• Instructs and educates patient and patient’s family and significant others regarding medications, patient’s condition, and treatment instructions post discharge and for the home environment;
• Individual must become proficient in exercising autonomy in medical decision-making and providing a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services;
• Collaborates with the Medical Director, Clinical Director, and staff therapists to discuss service plans and progress;
• Counsels patients during appointments and by phone as necessary;
• Designs/participates in the development of individualized service plans, using a variety of treatments;
• Reviews and evaluates treatment procedures and outcomes of other medical staff when necessary;
• Prepares and submits assessments, progress notes, reports and summaries to entities/agencies as required by the organization;
• Additional duties as assigned;