Responsibilities

SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES: Serves as an advanced practice healthcare provider in the area of psychiatric mental health working in both direct and indirect patient care activities. Direct care functions include providing physical and psychiatric assessments, therapeutic interventions, and case management services. Indirect care functions include assuming role as a consultant and educator. Assures provision of medical care in accordance with the South Carolina Mental Health Code, accreditation standards, licensing rules and regulations, legal aspects, hospital policies/procedures, standards of care and practice. Documents all clinical activities according to policy.

PRIMARY CRITERIA/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively supports, promotes and works to fulfill the mission, vision and values of The Carolina Center for Behavioral Health.
• Provides excellent care to inpatient and outpatient.
• Demonstrates commitment to the Service Excellence Program.
• Meets all competency and mandatory education requirements.
• Adheres to hospital standards of attendance and punctuality.
• Upholds dignity for self, patients and others. Utilizes professional and therapeutic approaches to treatment, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic status or faith. Maintains appropriate confidentiality at all times.
• Follows practice protocols agreed upon by supervising physician.
• Maintains current credentials and continuing medical education.
• Complies with Medical Staff Bylaws and all hospital policies.
• Competent in assessing, planning, and delivering care for patients with co-occurring disorders.

PRINCIPLE JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a consultant to the staff, providing education about psychiatric medication, psychiatric conditions and care giver interventions.
• Assists the Assessment Department with the screening and monitoring of patients.
• Reviews relevant clinical studies, working to translate research findings into routine clinical practice.
• Provides education as needed to patients, families, and significant others.
• Assumes teaching role in educational offerings.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed.
• Orders appropriate medicines, labs, tests, imaging and other ancillary services as needed.
• Maintains and reviews patient medical services documents and records as necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES DELEGATED BY PSYCHIATRIST

• Formulating an appropriate diagnosis based on history, physical examination, and clinical findings.
• Ordering appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Prescribing pharmacologic agents and compliance with antibiotic stewardship program.
• Providing information/education and obtaining informed consent for psychotropic medications.
• Prescribing non-pharmacologic therapies.
• Making appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community agencies.
• Determining the effectiveness of the plan of care through documentation of patient care outcomes.
• Reassessing and modifying the plan as necessary to achieve medical and health goals.
• Participates in treatment planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Participating in quality improvement activities including systematic review of records and treatment plans.
• Ordering consultations.
• Give admission orders.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant license to practice in the state. Maintains national certification. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to maintain confidentiality in regards to all information; skilled in flexibility, organizational, prioritization, and time management skills; crisis management skills; skills in analysis and evaluation; sound clinical judgment and decision-making; able to understand and apply applicable standards and regulations (e.g. The Joint Commission, CMS, DHEC, etc.)

• Must be able to handle a wide range of emotional expression.
• Must work well with all levels of staff.
• Must work well with all clinical populations and pathologies.
• Must be able to work independently as well as being part of a team.
• Must be able to work well with multiple disciplines and treatment modalities.
• Must be able to work well with multiple outside community systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENTPossible exposure to psychiatric patients who may exhibit violent/aggressive behavior; potential exposure to communicable diseases, blood/body fluids and, other hazardous waste. Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situation such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner. Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic. Ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another. Must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions. Able to assist in patient restraints and seclusions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to have full range of mobility in upper and lower body; be able to reach overhead; be able to work in various positions, including stooping, standing, bending over, sitting, kneeling and squatting for extended periods of time; be able to lift, pull and push materials and equipment to complete assigned job tasks; and be able to frequently lift 50-100 pounds of weight throughout the assigned workday.

Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken language or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing to perceive sound with no less than 40 db loss @ Hz,1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound. Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands and fingers.

Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable people in the role to complete administrative and clerical tasks and visually observe patients on the unit and in therapeutic activities. While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.

OTHER DUTIESPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

THE CAROLINA CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Service Excellence is part of all we do at The Carolina Center for Behavioral Health. Our standards include:

• Treat everyone as a guest by making a good first impression, anticipating needs and displaying service recovery skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism and excellence by looking professional, being accountable for actions and delivering excellence in our everyday work.
• Practice teamwork by participating in decision-making and process improvement, communicating effectively and focusing on the problem/issue, not the person.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Carolina Center for Behavioral Health is committed to the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity for all employees and applicants. It is our policy to ensure that both current and prospective employees are afforded equal employment opportunity without consideration of race, religious creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation or, disability in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.