Per-Diem Psychiatrist

Job Description Summary

Provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and treatment recommendations for medical patients with acute psychiatric and behavioral health needs and select patients within our ED. Sample conditions include management of acute delirium, decompensation of chronic psychiatric conditions, and assessment of suicidal ideation, capacity evaluation, and geriatric psychiatry. Guide disposition planning, including transitions to inpatient psychiatry or other behavioral health settings and/or support safe medication management to allow patients to transition to alternate sites of care in order to receive ongoing medical and/or rehabilitative needs.

Support and supervise an experienced, highly engaged team of psychiatric NPs in the Inpatient setting and ED. Collaborate with Hospital Medicine clinicians, case management, and social work to deliver individualized care.

• Evaluates patients by interviewing patient, family, and other persons; conducting mental status examinations; observing behaviors; reviewing medical history and related documents; selecting, administering, and interpreting psychological tests; ordering laboratory tests and evaluating results.
• Prescribe, direct, and administer medications and/or counselling to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
• Develops treatment plans by determining nature and extent of cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and behavioral disorders; establishing treatment goals and methodologies.
• Treats patients by utilizing psychotherapeutic methods and medications; discussing progress toward goals with patients; providing instructions; monitoring effect of medications; supervising staff provision of services.
• Maintains interdisciplinary treatment by reviewing treatment plans and progress; consulting and collaborating with primary care physicians, social work, case management, nurses, and other health care providers.
• Assures quality and safe service for patients and staff by enforcing policies, procedures, standards, rules, Joint Commission requirements, and legal regulations; participating in utilization reviews; remaining available for emergency consultations.
• Improves staff competence by providing training and discussions regarding the interrelationship between psychosocial and physiological problems, psychotropic medications, crisis intervention, and related issues.
• Maintains historical records by documenting symptoms, medications, and treatment events; writing summaries.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in continuing medical educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Collaborating with clinical staff and providing supervision & oversight to psychiatric NP & APCs.
• Working with case management, ED, hospitalist attending and beside RN staff to support timely and appropriate transitions of care as mental health conditions are stabilized.

• Flexible per diem schedule — minimum of one 8–10 hour daytime shift per month.
• Opportunities for additional after‑hours telephone‑only call coverage.
• Work with a dynamic, experienced, multidisciplinary team dedicated to collaborative, safe, patient‑centered care.