Job Description

This position is contingent upon award

International Health and Medical Services is looking for an experienced Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders among patients, ensuring they receive appropriate psychiatric care and support. This role includes collaborating with the healthcare team to implement treatment plans, monitor progress, and provide crisis intervention as needed, fostering mental health and well-being.

• Evaluate, diagnosis, and treat psychiatric and mental health care patients, including family units, providing urgent and emergent mental health care, public health management, case management, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team.
• Functions within the scope of specialty under the clinical oversight of the Chief of Psychiatry, the Clinical Director, a designated consulting psychiatrist, and in accordance with a completed Scope of Practice agreement.
• Operate under well-accepted practices and principles of psychiatric and medical care providers and in accordance with the Scope of Practice and as outlined Policies.
• Consult with the Clinical Director, Psychiatrist, and other behavioral health providers for management of complex psychiatric conditions.
• Work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Coordinate mental health patient care, off-site referrals, and collaborative duties through scheduled appointments, sick call, or walk-ins.
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic psychiatric disorders including providing counseling, support, and prescribing various medications.
• Work within and perform functions as outlined in state collaborative practice and prescriptive authority agreements.
• Apply knowledge of drugs and therapeutics when prescribing medication. Maintains safety when dispensing medications and continually cognizant of the potential hazard of drug hoarding and trafficking among detainees.
• Order and interpret diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to the detainees’ psychiatric needs.
• Utilize evidence-based tools in the identification of risks associated with medication induced movement disorders.
• Provide urgent or emergent mental health evaluation and initiate appropriate action based upon operating memorandums and policies, to include emergent use of forced psychotropic medication.
• Follow policies in the management of significant mental illness including prevention of homicidal or suicidal ideation, plan or intent.
• Provide telepsychiatry services for patients at other facilities as needed, only in the states the provider is licensed, to include working with the patient’s local primary care provider to coordinate care for any
• identified medical concerns, using video teleconferencing equipment and electronic medical records software to examine and record the patient’s plan of care.
• May choose to obtain additional state licensing, outside of the state of duty station, at provider’s own expense, in order to provide additional compensated telepsychiatry services.
• Admit, discharge, and perform daily rounds on patients and notify Clinical Director of any abnormal findings.
• Provides relevant health education to detainees verbally and with handouts.
• Complete all initial, annual and ad hoc training as required.
• Complete and pass all discipline specific competencies testing, initially and annually.
• Assist in the orientation and training of medical and mental health personnel in mental health policy and procedures.
• Maintain functional proficiency and ease of use utilizing electronic health records as required by, and appropriate to, the position.
• Perform record keeping functions in accordance with program policies and position.
• Document detainee care visits in the required health record using required format, in compliance with policy and guidance.
• Demonstrates ability to solicit, interpret, protect, and transfer patient health records in compliance with policy, the Privacy Act, and HIPAA regulations.
• Adhere to, and maintains awareness of, Policies, Procedures, Directives, Operational Memoranda and accreditation standards.
• Assist with preparation for accreditation and ongoing compliance with standards as assigned.
• Adhere to Safety, Prevention, Infection and Control, Quality Improvement, Patient Education and other programs and collateral duties as appropriate to position. Participates in quality assurance and improvement activities as assigned.
• Participate in the Peer Review process as required.
• Attends general and mental health staff meetings.
• Apply professional, evidence-based, clinical principles, procedures, and techniques to patient care delivery.
• Utilize knowledge of drugs and therapeutics when prescribing and dispensing medication.
• Understand practical knowledge of laboratory procedures and guidelines.
• Use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Utilize interpretation and translation or assisted communication services as needed to ensure ability to communicate with patients or others who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or have a communication disability or impediment.
• Adapt to sudden changes in schedules and flexibility in work requirements.
• Communicate proficiently in English (verbal and written) in order to develop positive rapport with patients, co-workers, and other stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships in an interdisciplinary, multicultural and multi-lingual environment.
• Navigate in an electronic work environment including electronic health records, web-based training and communications.
• Moderate proficiency in, common Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and SharePoint.
• Have knowledge of regulations (HIPAA/Privacy Act) regarding the confidentiality of patient medical records and information as well as Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
• Utilize comprehensive knowledge of managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations, and patients with significant deficits in coping skills.
• Knowledge of forensic psychiatry and advanced clinical concepts and principles is preferred
• Verbal and written proficiency in English (required) and Spanish (preferred).
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in all communications with coworkers and clients, fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment that values diversity.
• Complete required organizational compliance education, including assigned requirements that are client-specified, for Joint Commission Healthcare Staffing Services certification or other regulatory bodies.

** This list is non-exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional duties that are not specifically listed above.**

Qualifications

Basic Requirements/Certifications:

• Must have and maintain an unrestricted and current license as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant issued by the state licensing authority in the state where services are performed.
• Fulfils the obligations of state licensing board to maintain licensure including completion and maintenance of collaborative practice agreements and prescriptive authority agreements.
• Maintains unrestricted license with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and in the state in which the duty station is located to prescribe controlled medications.
• A minimum of one year of clinical provider experience in direct patient care. The government may waive the one-year experience requirement based on the receiving site’s ability to mentor and teach the newly licensed provider.
• Experience in a detention or correctional or residential health care setting (preferred, not required).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) required. If not American Heart Association (AHA) certified, must be within first year.
• Physician Assistant (PA) - Requires unrestricted PA state license and national board certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). * Current licensure as a PA issued by the state licensing authority in the state where services are performed. * Graduate from an accredited Physician Assistant program located in the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. * Graduate from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). * Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry from the NCCPA - required. * Maintains current board certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Requires unrestricted PMHNP state license and national board certification through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). * Requires current unrestricted registered nurse and PMHNP licenses issued by the state licensing authority in the state where services are performed. * PMHNP degree from a graduate school of professional nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), typically a Master or Doctoral level education. * Graduate from an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program located in the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. * Maintains current board certification as PMHNP by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• Employees shall have at least one year of general experience that demonstrates the following:
  • The ability to greet and deal tactfully with the public.
  • Capability of understanding and applying written and verbal orders, rules, and regulations. All personnel shall be literate and be able to interpret printed rules and regulations, detailed written orders, training instructions and materials, and must be able to compose reports.

  •   * Good judgment, courage, alertness, an even temperament, and render satisfactory performance through knowledge of his/her position responsibilities.
    

    • Ability to maintain poise and self-control during situations that involve mental stress, such as fires, explosions, civil disturbances, and building evacuations.

Attributes and Professional Qualities:

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Analytical skills and ability to navigate complex system.
• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgement and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrates integrity, honesty, and cultural competency.
• Verbal and written proficiency in Spanish (preferred, not required).

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of forensic psychiatry concepts and principles.
• Correctional health care experience.
• Certification as Correctional Healthcare Professional (CCHP).
• Knowledge and/or experience with client policies, NCCHC and PBNDS requirements.

Physical Requirements:

• Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
• Required to jog/fast walk up to ¼ mile.
• Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds.
• Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.
• Must have the ability to assist sick, injured, or aging patients or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self).
• Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary.
• Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
• Must perform the duties of my job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.
• Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time.
• Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
• Phone or computer use for extended periods of time.

Other Special Qualifications:

• Must maintain current/physical residency in the continental U.S.
• Pass a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician within 30 days prior to initial assignment.
• U.S. citizen and have resided in the U.S. for the last five years (unless abroad on official U.S. government duty).
• Successfully engage in and complete a thorough Background Investigation.
• Poses or have ability to obtain required security clearances.
• Proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Additional Information

Pay range is based on several factors and may vary in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Final salary and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, experience, skills, internal equity, and alignment with geographical market data.

Benefits – Full-time positions are eligible for our comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Additional benefits include a 401k plan paid time off and an annual bonus. International Health and Medical Services complies with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws.

International Health and Medical Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or job applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with the applicable federal, state and local laws.