Psychiatrist

Job Description Summary

Reporting directly to the Chief of Psychiatry, and indirectly to the Chair of the Department of Medicine, this role is pivotal in supporting our team of skilled psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and patients with active psychiatric and behavioral health needs. This provider will participate in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered psychiatric care and collaborate with other health professionals to advance evidenced-based treatment plans.

Because of South Shore Health’s broad programs in Behavioral Health, which include ED management, and the Grayken Center for Treatment at South Shore Health, this provider may be asked to support and oversee care in partnership with a range of behavioral health providers to enhance Emergency Department psychiatric evaluations and care pathways. The provider should have strong clinical understanding related to treating a wide variety of behavioral health conditions, including primary psychiatric disorders, disorders related to the complex medical inpatient, comfort with geriatric psychiatry (acute delirium and dementia), perinatal behavioral health, as well as recognition of complex interplay between neurologic and psychiatric conditions in the hospital setting.

This role offers opportunities for leadership development and growth for those individuals with broader interests in behavioral health care management, quality improvement, and team development.

• Evaluates and treats patients with psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses at the request of ED and Inpatient clinical providers.
• Consults with medical teams to provide insight on patients’ psychiatric conditions and impact on their medical conditions, overall treatment plans, and transitions of care plans.
• Provides crisis intervention for patients with acute psychiatric symptoms and conditions, including those with SI/HI.
• Manages evidenced-based pharmacological treatments, considering interactions between psychiatric and medical medications.
• Documents patient evaluations, treatments, and follow-ups in a timely fashion adhering to medical staff bylaw requirements, while maintaining HIPAA compliance.
• Supports integration, training, and supervision of advanced practice providers (e.g. psychiatrically trained physician assistants and psychiatric nurse practitioners) within these settings, ensuring high standards of care and compliance with all relevant bylaws, rules, regulations, and accrediting bodies.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in developing order sets and care pathways for psychiatric and behavioral health conditions.
• Works closely with local nursing staff to actively titrate medications to patient response with an eye toward reducing excess length of stay and optimizing patients toward safe transition from South Shore Hospital.
• Collaborates with health professionals, such as nurses, social workers, case managers, and medical providers including, but not limited to APCs and physicians from Inpatient Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Neurology, Pediatrics, Critical Care, and Addiction Medicine.
• Helps patients and families understand and cope with the psychological aspects of medical conditions and medication therapy.
• Stays up to date with South Shore Hospital and Joint Commission approved policies for management and appropriate use of chemical and physical restraints and care of the Suicidal Patient.
• Supports care team in selecting appropriate disposition and care plans for patients with complex behavioral health needs, including determination of capacity for medical decision making, identifying when to seek guardianship, and supporting transitions to various types of inpatient and outpatient/partial psychiatry programs.

• Minimum Education
  • Medical School Degree, Board Certified in Psychiatry
  • Fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry preferred
• Credentials
  • Meets requirements of South Shore Health medical staff bylaws
  • Credentialed by South Shore Hospital medical staff
• Minimum Work Experience
  • Experience in psychiatric care management as noted.
  • Experience with inpatient and emergency department psychiatric services preferred.
  • Experience, comfort with…