BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT-PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION SUMMARY: The BHC- PMHNP is a key member of the primary care delivery team at Christ Community Health Services. The BHC serves an essential function of the Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH), and practices using the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. Embedded and fully integrated as part of routine care, BHCs function as generalists and consultants and will provide direct care, as well as scaffold the patient’s care team for prevention and intervention services across the lifespan. As a PMHNP, this specific role also functions as a medical provider, with focus on psychiatric medication management and consultation support of Family Medicine, Pediatric and OBGYN providers, under the supervision of a consulting licensed psychiatrist.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide high quality, culturally-sensitive health services that are in line with organizational productivity expectations

1. Provide targeted behavioral health assessment and intervention services for patients across the lifespan (children, adolescents, and adults) who present with a broad range of psychopathology, substance misuse, and health compromising behaviors contributing to chronic medical conditions

1. Provide services in a manner consistent with the Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultant Model of integration, including same day access, team-based care, in person and when appropriate virtual and a flexible, population-based approach to care

1. Work with the primary care team to refer patients to community providers and services when appropriate, and support patients during transition

1. Function as a generalist (mirroring PCPs), meaning the PMHNP will need to be able to intervene with patients across the life span, and will need to be able to see patients with mental health and substance use presentations, as well as patients with chronic health conditions with a biopsychosocial influence. 

1. Provide timely patient care and prompt feedback to referring primary care providers, BH team members, and other allied health personnel (such as clinical pharmacists, dentists and dieticians) in order to facilitate holistic and comprehensive healthcare within an integrated primary care setting.
    
    
2. Provide education to physicians and other medical staff regarding behavioral health standards of care for mental health conditions and the management of psychosocial aspects of chronic medical conditions, ethical practice, and psychopharmacology where appropriate.
    
    
3. Actively participate in meetings and trainings that support CCHS’s integrated health care model to provide comprehensive care for clients.
    
    
4. Help monitor the clinic’s behavioral health program, identifying problems related to patient services and making recommendations for improvement.

1. Provide clinical supervision to graduate practicum students, interns, and/or postdoctoral fellows.

MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Prescribe, direct, and administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat behavioral health, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

1. Provide evidence based care for scheduled appointments and same day handoff support of CCHS clinics through in person and telehealth services. 

1. Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patient to provide information on general physical condition and behavioral health disorder.

1. As the psychiatry team eventually expands, act as a Collaborating Provider for review and consultation of psychiatric Complex Care Management patients.

1. As a part of the Substance Abuse and Medication Assisted Therapy team, assess, prescribe, and help facilitate care of patients with Alcohol and Opioid Dependence, including but not limited to monthly case staffing, monitoring labs, and treatment planning.

1. Provides referrals for hospitalization, tests, therapies, or specialty consultations; makes hospital rounds as indicated.

1. Provides follow-up care for patients. Ensures continuity of patient and family care by exchanging information and cooperating with other community health/social service agencies, hospitals, and health care providers.

1. Attends staff meetings and provider meetings, and maintains involvement with CCHS committees to ensure quality of care for patients; participates in development and/or revisions of specific protocols; participates in peer review, performance evaluations, and the review of improvement data to assess and advance quality improvement measures.

JOBS THIS POSITION DIRECTLY SUPERVISES

If no supervisory duties, leave blank.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education:  Graduate degree in Advance Practice Nursing with specialty in Psychiatric-Mental Health

Desired Experience:  1) Two (2) years of post-graduate experience preferably in a hospital or other primary healthcare setting, working closely with physicians and other medical professionals to provide team-based patient care, 2) experience providing empirically-supported psychological interventions for both mental health and medical conditions, 3) experience utilizing electronic medical records for documentation and communication within an interdisciplinary medical team

Licenses or Certifications: Licensed in the State of Tennessee as Advance Practice Nurse or eligible for licensure in Tennessee.  National Board Certification for PMHNP

Mental Requirements

Physical Requirements

Approximate percentage of time spent lifting, pulling and/or pushing:  5%

Maximum number of pounds required (with or without assistance):  25 lbs.

Types of objects the incumbent is required to lift/pull/push.  Files, books, paperwork

Machines and Equipment Used:

Approximate percentage of time incumbent spends in “on-the-job” travel, excluding commuting to regular work location:  10% travel between clinics

Working Conditions

Involves exposure to patients of all ages or family members who may have mental illness, infectious disease, or contagious illness

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Maintain appropriate continuing education and compliance with supervising psychiatrist directed learning needs. Maintain and adhere to collaborative practice agreement with licensed supervised psychiatrist contracted by CCHS. C