Clinical Psychologist; Behavioral Health

Overview

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH) - Camp Pendleton, CA

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be collected and reviewed until all vacancies are filled. A relocation incentive may be authorized. Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

On March 19, 2009, construction of a new Navy hospital for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was approved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The replacement of the Camp Pendleton hospital was the largest ARRA project in the Department of the Navy. The ground breaking for the 500,000-square-foot, four-story building was December 2, 2010, with construction being completed October 17, 2013.

The command transitioned to the new facility over a two week period from December 2 - 15, 2013. A Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held January 31, 2014, to officially open the facility.

This position is as a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC). The Primary Care Behavioral Health Program provides a team-based approach to healthcare by integrating behavioral health providers and registered nurses into Primary Care Clinics to deliver evidence-based biopsychosocial assessment, treatment, prevention and management of behavioral health problems and biopsychosocially influenced health conditions for Military Health System beneficiaries.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Serves as a Clinical Psychologist Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for the Clinic and Behavioral Health System of Care (BHSOC) Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program. Makes mental health diagnoses in accordance with the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) when differential diagnosis is required. Provides individual and group treatment, using various modalities as clinically indicated to include brief problem-focused interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psycho educational classes.
  
  Assesses acute mental health and behavioral medicine conditions in beneficiaries who present with such issues.
• Maintains appropriate documentation of patient care in accordance with current unit and hospital standard operating procedures (SOPs) and current DoD, DHA PCBH, Federal and state regulations. Maintains performance and conduct in accordance with current unit and hospital SOPs; current DoD, DHA, Federal and state regulations; and professional ethics.
• Assesses and provides intervention for individuals with a wide range of chronic medical conditions, and behavioral health issues affecting medical conditions to include assessment and disposition of beneficiaries with acute and chronic risk. Provides treatment via targeted and efficient appointments for initial and follow-up visits. Performs PCBH biopsychosocial evaluations using expert knowledge of clinical and clinical health psychology. Conducts outpatient group classes, stress management, relaxation training, assertive/social skills training, smoking cessation training, substance abuse identification and brief related interventions appropriate for primary care, as well as evidence-based interventions for mastery of behavioral health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, post traumatic symptoms etc.)
  
  and behavioral medicine conditions (e.g. insomnia, acute and chronic pain, diabetes, weight management etc.) as required. Participates in quality assurance activities.
• Provides psychological and clinical consultation to physicians, other professionals and paraprofessionals through established consultation channels. Provides feedback to Primary Care Managers (PCMs) regarding consultation findings and recommendations as directed by the current DHA PCBH Administrative Instruction.
• Consults with primary care providers to select, approve, and document treatment priorities in SMART goal format. Serves as the authority on primary care psychology for the clinic. Educates clinic staff on the principles of primary care behavioral health via trainings and briefings. Conducts meetings and conferences to review the level of care for appropriateness of treatment in primary care and evaluate and approve referral sources.
  
  Establishes cooperative agreements among various providers and clinics throughout the Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Monitors, evaluates, and approves use of community resources. Provides reports and approves consults. Uses objective behavioral outcome measures to evaluate progress in treatment.
• Provides evidenced-based individual treatment and psycho educational classes for patients enrolled in primary care clinics. Provides expertise in human behavior as a primary care team member and provides consultation to primary care and specialty clinic providers regarding psychological treatment options to optimize health outcomes. Assists primary care providers with the treatment of patients with known high-risk factors such as suicide, history of trauma, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
  
  Conducts PCBH model treatment, monitors,…