Job Description
Job Description
Job Description
Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Medical Director, the Psychiatrist works as part of the medical provider team, providing services to the patients of the community health center. The Psychiatrist will meet with patients and evaluate their behavior by asking questions and administering psychological test. They determine the possible causes of disordered behavior, decide if a patient could benefit from medication and explain the process of starting a new psychiatric medication. The Psychiatrist will closely observe the progress of their patients to determine the impact of different treatments and make adjustments as needed.
The Consulting Psychiatrist plays a critical role in supporting the integration of behavioral health services within primary care using the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) and Collaborative Care (CoCM) models. As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, the psychiatrist provides indirect, consultative services — supporting Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs), Behavioral Health Care Managers (BHCMs), and primary care providers.
This role focuses on population-based psychiatric consultation through weekly case reviews, treatment planning guidance, and medication consultation. The psychiatrist also supports the agency’s Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program by offering psychiatric evaluation and collaboration on substance use disorder cases, particularly those involving co-occurring mental health needs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Use a variety of methods to evaluate a patient, such as interviewing the patient, their family or other persons.
- Develop a treatment plan according to the needs of the patient’s needs and extent of emotional, social, cognitive, developmental or behavioral disorder.
- Treat a patient using psychotherapeutic methods and medication, monitoring the effects of any medication and adjusting treatment where necessary.
- Consult with the patient’s Primary Care Physician, Nurses or other health care providers.
- Provide crisis intervention when needed.
- Write and maintain patient and clinical records, including the type of treatment and medication administered.
- Keep up-to-date with professional job knowledge by reading publications, attending educational conferences or maintaining professional networks.
- Follow ethical and legal policies, procedures and standards.
Consultation & Clinical Collaboration
- Provide weekly psychiatric case review for the CoCM caseload, collaborating closely with BHCMs and PCPs.
- Offer curbside consultation to BHCs and primary care providers regarding diagnostic clarification, psychotropic medication management, and treatment planning.
- Guide BHCMs and PCPs in risk assessment and crisis planning for complex cases.
- Maintain clear documentation and consultation notes in the EHR in alignment with CoCM documentation standards.
Support for the MAT Program
- Consult on patient cases within the MAT program, particularly those with co-occurring psychiatric conditions.
- Assist in evaluating appropriateness for MAT in complex cases and support the prescribing team on managing mental health comorbidities.
- Support integration of behavioral strategies into MAT workflows.
Model-Specific Activities
- Maintain fidelity to the Collaborative Care Model by supporting registry-based caseload reviews, tracking clinical progress, and recommending treatment adjustments.
- In the PCBH model, reinforce a population-based, consultation-focused approach (i.e., not assuming direct long-term care or individual caseloads).
- Help differentiate which patients are best suited for PCBH brief intervention versus stepped-up psychiatric care under CoCM.
Education, Team Development, and Training
- Participate in team meetings, training, and continuous quality improvement related to integrated behavioral health.
- Offer educational support to medical providers on psychopharmacology and behavioral health topics.
- Help build team confidence in managing common psychiatric presentations within primary care.
Required Qualifications:
- MD or DO with board certification or board eligibility in Psychiatry.
- Licensure to practice medicine in South Carolina.
- At least 2 years of clinical experience in integrated care, community mental health, or primary care settings.
- Strong understanding of Collaborative Care Model and/or Primary Care Behavioral Health Model.
- Familiarity with MAT protocols and managing co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions.
- Commitment to health equity and working with underserved populations.
- Graduate of an accredited medical school.
- Completion of an approved residency program in Psychiatry.
- Sufficient experience to carry out the duties of this position.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with EHR-based consultation documentation.
- Experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or rural healthcare setting.
- Experience supervising or consulting with BHCMs and BHCs.
- Training in trauma-informed care, SBIRT, or similar evidence-based protocols.
Core Competencies:
- Ability to work as a consultant in a fast-paced, team-oriented primary care environment.
- Comfort with indirect care and population-based approaches.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and teaching skills.
- Cultural humility and responsiveness to diverse populations.
- Sensitivity and perceptiveness
- Trustworthiness to keep information confidential, as patients will tell the psychologist their most private thoughts and secrets.
- Deductive and inductive reasoning skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good Listening skills
- Critical thinking to help the psychologist make an accurate diagnosis to recommend proper treatment.
- Empathy and compassion to identify with patient’s experiences to help them understand what is causing them to feel a certain way.
- Knowledge of psychiatric medications
- The ability to relate with warmth and effectiveness to patients and staff.
- Must be certified in Basic Life Support techniques.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and perform efficiently and effectively in a stressful environment.
- Ability to acquire considerable knowledge of the policies, procedures and programs.
- Ability to comprehend, interpret and apply basic laws and regulations to specific situations.
- Ability to assist in the development of department administrative directives as required.
- Ability to assist in investigative analysis and make effective recommendations as required.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations as required.
- Ability to prepare clear, accurate and informative reports of progress of organizational units, results of research and reviews, and annual reports of accomplishments, future goals, and objectives.
- Ability to work effectively with associates, as well as with supervisors, in the various units of the organization.
- Ability to work in a team relationship.
DISCLAIMER
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change.
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