Adult Staff Psychiatrist

Scope

Skyland Trail is a nonprofit primary psychiatric residential treatment program for adults and adolescents. The adult residential treatment program located in Brookhaven/Atlanta, GA, treats adults ages 18+ with a mood, anxiety, or thought disorder.

Staff psychiatrists for the adult psychiatric residential treatment program serve as the healthcare team leader for one or more diagnosis-specific treatment tracks (i.e. CBT, DBT, cognition and first episode psychosis, social integration, and dual diagnosis). Staff psychiatrists collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes mental health therapists, expressive therapy coordinators, nutritionists, vocational counselors, nurses, and residential staff. Staff psychiatrists lead treatment planning and guide evidence-based, measurement-driven care.

Staff psychiatrists serve as the primary and/or supervising psychiatrist for a caseload of adult patients enrolled in residential treatment, day treatment (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs, providing medication management and psychotherapy. Residential and day treatment patients are seen weekly, and IOP patients are seen biweekly.

Staff psychiatrists are responsible for timely documentation of orders and session notes and for communicating changes in the treatment plan to the treatment team. Psychiatrists also are available for periodic consultation with patient families.

Duties

• Complete 30-minute weekly sessions with a caseload of adult patients including psychotherapy and medication management.
• Supervise psychiatric nurse practitioners or physician assistants, as needed.
• Document assessments and clinical judgement processes in the electronic health record and share changes to the treatment plan or other pertinent information with the treatment team in a timely manner.
• Serve as the leaders and chief medical decision-maker for a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Exercise prudent judgment in assessing the acuity of illness and severity of symptoms and disability to make sound clinical decisions for level of care and emergency management as appropriate.
• Integrate physical lifestyle recommendations into holistic treatment planning, including healthy eating, active living, tobacco cessation, weight management interventions and other preventive medical suggestions.
• Clearly and effectively communicate clinical recommendations and treatment plans with appropriate staff and stakeholders, including managed care organization representatives to advocate for patients healthcare rights and coverage.
• Share on-call responsibilities (phone call) for after-hours emergencies approximately one week out of eight, depending on current staffing. No in-person assessments required while on call.
• Serve as a member of the Skyland Trail Professional Advisory Board and as a representative and advocate of Skyland Trail, its patients, and its organizational interests in the community at large.
• Contribute to organizational Performance Improvement (Quality Improvement) efforts, program development, and strategic planning, as required.

Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of treating adults with serious mental illnesses and corresponding recovery principles and interventions
• Expertise in completing psychiatric diagnostic assessments and ongoing medication management and psychotherapies for patients with primary mood, psychotic, and anxiety disorders as well as patients with complex co-occurring dual diagnosis presentations and/or borderline personality disorder
• Skills and proficiency in establishing supportive, trusting relationships with adults with mental illnesses
• Respect for individuals rights and personal preferences
• Ability to complete documentation in complete and timely manner in electronic record
• Interdisciplinary team leadership skills and basic management knowledge
• Dedication to maintaining excellent boundaries while simultaneously cultivating good therapeutic alliances with patients
• Working knowledge of general physical medical care and lifestyle medicine recommendations
• Excellent oral and written skills with ability to effectively communicate
• Knowledge and ability to enforce HIPAA standards and Skyland Trail Confidentiality Policies