Health Psychologist

PRINCIPAL MISSION:

To provide the department with the diagnostic, therapeutic, and research expertise of the discipline of Clinical Psychology.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

ED Responsibilities:

1. Provides professional/clinical services to patients in the Emergency Department to assess and address the need for psychiatric and/or substance abuse treatment and disposition and follow-up as appropriate.
2. Performs a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, that includes assessing current psychiatric symptoms, past psychiatric history, evaluation of mental status, current and history of violence, suicidal or self-harm behavior, substance use, level of functioning, health behaviors, trauma, and social and developmental history.
3. Consults with the Attending Psychiatrist, as appropriate, for evaluation of findings of the psychiatric, and health screening to make prospective decisions about treatment.
4. Manages psychiatric emergencies by determining the level of risk and initiating and coordinating effective emergency care.
5. Reviews the medical record, if the patient has had prior hospitalizations.
6. Contacts the patient’s outpatient psychiatrist (or clinician) to exchange clinical information if a patient has been treated outside of hospital.
7. Documents patient’s clinical and treatment status each shift. There must also be a note when there is a significant change in the patient’s condition or treatment.
8. Develops a differential diagnosis derived from the collection and synthesis of assessment data.
9. Consults with other members of the interdisciplinary team to determine, evaluate, and plan immediate treatment interventions, goals/objectives.
10. Counsels and guides patients, their families, and/or significant others relating to psychiatric treatment, physical health, and progress.
11. Coordinates & maintains a log of bed availability on the inpatient psychiatric units to determine order of admission to the units from Emergency Department, Detox unit or medical units. 
12. Coordinates the transfer of patients to other hospitals or from other hospitals to SBH.
13. Provide debriefing to Emergency Department staff after critical incidents.
14. Coordinate with risk management team and NYPD to facilitate psychiatric treatment of Emergency Department patients who are in custody.

General Psychology Responsibilities:

1. Provides supervision & teaching to staff, residents, interns, externs, & other students as needed or requested.
2. Provides didactic lectures to staff, residents, interns, externs, & students.
3. Attends & presents at Psychiatry/Psychology Grand Rounds & Departmental in-service. Additional assignments consistent with training and discipline, such as participation in departmental committees, as requested by the Director of Psychiatry.

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principle functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A. Education Required:

Ph.D. or Psy.D.in Clinical/Counseling Psychology, from an APA accredited program. A one-year internship approved by the applicant's graduate program.

B. Experience Required: 

Three years working with a severely mentally ill population, preferably post-licensure.

1. Knowledge & Skills:
   1. Knowledge of DSM 5.
   2. Knowledge of a variety of theoretical models for the treatment of patients with psychiatric illness & the ability to apply them.
   3. Knowledge of the OMH/Joint Commission regulations & how they are applied to psychiatry departments.
   4. Knowledge of charting requirements.
   5. Knowledge of supervisory approaches & the ability to critique and supervise staff, residents, interns, externs, & students.
2. License(s) Required

A N.Y. State license is preferred, but will consider license-eligible candidates with relevant experience.

Working Conditions:  Psychiatric inpatient units, with adult voluntary and involuntary severely and persistently mentally ill patients, Emergency Department, General Hospital medical patients.

Job Hazards: The possibility of being assaulted by agitated, confused, or paranoid patients, and exposure to communicable diseases.