Summary

The Psychiatry Physician Assistant (PA) is an intermediate level position and is responsible for the care and administrative needs of mental health patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The PA also functions as a coordinator between the attending physician and the other team members to include nurses and PMH NPs - psychologists - social workers - psychotherapists - LMFTs - LPMHCs - addiction therapists and other clinic personnel.

Duties

• The Psychiatry PA will be responsible for the primary medical needs of inpatients and outpatients in the mental health clinics and wards
• Duties will include - but not be limited to - the evaluation of current psychiatric and medical problems - administrative assistance - quality assurance and educational support as detailed below
• Position may be required to work evenings - weekends - holidays - and on-call - in addition to regular tour of duty
• Other duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Conduct initial psychiatric evaluations - including initial assessment interviews - history and physical exams
• lab - imaging - medication and psychotherapy consultation orders - aftercare plans and follow up visits
• Following the initial evaluation - the PA will provide appropriate follow up care including reassessments of diagnoses and conditions - medication adjustments - and any further tests or consults indicated
• Provide mental health education /counseling and brief therapy of patients and their families
• Primary responsibility for care of patients when the clinic medical director is absent
• Conduct ongoing follow up appointments for stable patients - including regular refills of medications - required lab and other tests and documenting progress
• Perform examinations and screening scales (such as AIMS - MoCA - HAM-D) and similar non-invasive examinations specific to the ongoing care of psychiatric patients
• Ordering appropriate laboratory tests - imaging studies - EKGs (electrocardiograms) - and similar noninvasive tests
• Initiating and expediting consultation requests and scheduling special tests and studies
• Drawing blood specimens for testing and obtaining other body fluid samples requiring comparably low levels of invasiveness
• Making rounds for inpatients - holding scheduled appointments for outpatients to observe and record patients' medical progress - and notifying the collaborating physician of significant changes in patients' condition
• Mixing and starting IV (intravenous) solutions and administering IV medications
• Dispensing medications (including injections)
• Providing education and counseling of the patient and the patient's family in preventive care - medical conditions - and the use of prescribed treatments and medications
• Performing preventive health activities (including intradermal testing)
• Ordering appropriate prosthetic devices and medical equipment
• Recording notes on all procedures performed for which the PA is responsible
• Initiating ECT or TMS work up and scheduling
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized