Position Summary

 The Health Services Corps (IHSC) mission is comprehensive and the unique detention environment requires a broad clinical background. The core scope of practice includes but is not limited to: evaluation, formulation of diagnoses, and treatment of psychiatric and mental health care needs, including family units; urgent and emergency mental health care, public health management, case management, collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and gender specific care, including transgender care and management of mental health care during pregnancy. All health care provided to  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees is governed by IHSC policy and established detention standards. 

Schedule Requirements

• This full-time position requires availability to work days, evenings, as well as weekends and holidays. Night shifts may be, but are generally not required.
• This full-time position is required to provide rotational on-call coverage and may need to return to the facility to provide care during the coverage period.
• IHSC operates 24/7/365; this position is required to respond during an emergency activation.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct care to patients within discipline Scope of Practice and performs functions in accordance with current accepted practice, licensure, certification, credentialing and or granted privileges.
• Provides treatment of persons throughout the life span as appropriate to discipline and facility setting.
• Working with the patient’s local primary care provider (PCP) to coordinate care for any identified medical concerns (patient’s local administrative staff will coordinate the appointment).
• Using IHSC video teleconferencing equipment and electronic medical records (EMR) software to examine and record the patient’s plan of care.
• Telepsychiatry services will be provided in accordance with the IHSC Tele-Mental Health Services policy.
• May be expected to respond to and or coordinate response to medical emergencies.
• Prescribes and monitors psychiatric medication treatment services including monitoring the side effects of medication and/or adverse reactions.
• Utilizes the evidence-based algorithms for decision-making regarding patient assessment and medication management.
• Utilizes evidence-based tools (i.e. Assessment of Involuntary Movement Scale) in the identification of risks associated with medication induced movement disorders.
• Adheres to medical standards in accordance with IHSC policies, American Psychiatric Association standards, and legal requirements.
• Determines the need for core treatment and specialty services for identified patients in a full range of psychiatric problems.
• Performs various diagnostic and treatment procedures, including cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy, supportive individual and group psychotherapy, somatic therapies (including the use of traditional and atypical drugs).
• Provides professional, recovery based psychiatric care considerate of cultural and ethnic diversity and focuses on empowering individuals to change their own lives.
• Assures patients are treated with dignity and are consulted when evaluating and/or revising treatment and services.
• Utilizes evidence-based practices to promote recovery, reduces stigma and unconditionally enhance the quality of life.
• Assures a positive therapeutic milieu exists during treatment and emphasizes recovery goals.
• Prepares or oversees the preparation of documentation, testimony, and written orders needed for care, treatment, medical records, legal actions, referrals, performance development, credentials/privileges, and administrative requirements.
• Provides subject matter expertise to staff in all matters pertaining to mental health treatment (modalities and medications), and mental health programs both domestic and international.
• Analyzes public health care trends, in the mental health area, of related special population groups and assists in developing and implementing policies and guidelines to improve mental health services of such groups.
• Assumes responsibility for the non-psychiatric medical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of patients for whom she or he is responsible in the absence of non-psychiatric physicians in emergency situations and within incumbent’s competency and scope of practice.
• Spends at least 60% of time in direct patient care to meet the performance targets set by the IHSC.
• Provides specialized medical services to “outpatients” and provides medical care to inpatients in facilities with a short stay unit. Specific duties involve all aspects of health care delivery. The incumbent will work in concert with both facility staff and consultant specialists in various clinical areas.
• May be required to see patients who are not in the category of his/her expertise but within his or her scope of practice.
• Assures proper maintenance of medical records, preparation of reports, etc., as related to the area of responsibility. Makes recommendations on matters of policy, procedures, training, personnel, and equipment as related to specific area of responsibility.

Requirements

• Permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine independently in the state in which the duty station is located. The license must be maintained in a permanent, full, and unrestricted status during the term of employment. Any changes to license must be reported to employer immediately.
• Board Certification or eligible by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. (ABPN).
• Minimum of one-year experience post residency.
• This position requires privileging by IHSC.
• Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification through the American Heart Association® or the American Red Cross.