Description

The University of Texas, Dell Medical School (DMS) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is seeking a board certified/board eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to join the clinical faculty and serve on our community and school-based telemedicine programs and consultation-liaison clinical team in Austin, Texas. We seek a physician who will help the Department achieve our goal of working with community partners to develop clinical, educational and research initiatives that revolutionize how people get and stay mentally healthy in Central Texas and beyond. 

Additionally, DMS is a Health Research Institute (HRI) of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium. The program and projects of the DMS HRI work to address the clinical needs of the programs which address urgent mental health challenges and improve the mental health care system in Texas for children, adolescents and their families. This position will provide clinical and consultative care as a part of the Child and Perinatal Psychiatric Access Network (CPAN and PeriPAN), a telephone consultation line for physicians, Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT), a school-based telehealth program and Child Psychiatry Workforce Expansion (CWPE) projects for the Central Texas catchment area. We are also integrated in our local mental health community clinics. 

Primary responsibilities will include providing clinical expertise to evaluate and treat a broad spectrum of mental health challenges for children and adolescents and in support of physicians who call the Child and Perinatal Psychiatric Access Network for consultation. The physician would also provide psychiatric care to children and adolescents as part of the Community Psychiatry Workforce Expansion (CPWE) program. This program is part of recent legislative funding to increase access to pediatric mental health services across Texas.

We seek candidates committed to providing exemplary care and treatment that restores hope and helps patients live healthier, fuller lives. A clinical assignment will occur through our Department’s collaborations with the Seton Healthcare Family with the physician providing clinical care at a Local Mental Health Authority and/or Dell Children’s Medical Center remotely. 

Essential Functions

Treatment and Assessment:  Leveraging knowledge and understanding of child/adolescent psychiatry, treats and assesses patients and/or physicians (e.g., primary care physicians, family medicine doctors, etc.); obtains information through the clinical interview and interprets age-specific responses to treatment; leverages knowledge and understanding of psychosocial systems on treatment and age specific psychopharmacology to the benefit of the patient. Offers education, clinical recommendations, and referral information to equip doctors to manage mental health cases in the primary care setting. Treats patients, staff, and doctors with dignity and respect. Meets productivity standards as developed by the Medical Director. Prescribes medication in collaboration with the patient/guardian based on diagnosis and target symptoms, and in compliance with any applicable center formulary. Applies cost/benefit/risk analysis. Accounts for other medical conditions in making medical decisions and collaborates with other professionals as necessary. Complies with procedures for acquisition of medication through patient assistance programs. Provides ongoing in person and/or telemedical medication management services consistent with the standard of care and in accordance with applicable guidelines. Evaluates and monitors effectiveness and tolerability of psychiatric medications. Provides patient education and ensures appropriate consents are obtained. Performs AIMS and other assessments as applicable.

Evaluation:  Provides and appropriately documents in person and/or telemedical psychiatric evaluations consistent with the standard of care and in accordance with any applicable guidelines and documentation requirements. Psychiatric diagnosis is supported by clinical findings. Orders lab work as indicated by patient need and in compliance with applicable rules and guidelines. Reviews lab results in a timely manner, and adjusts treatment as indicated.

Documentation:  Documents all services in a professional and timely manner, using approved medical records systems and forms. Documents all services within 24 hours of service delivery including the addition of all documents and pertinent information between appointments, including phone calls, medication changes, and referrals. Clearly documents rationale for treatment that deviates from usual standards, such as polypharmacy, treatment of patients with ongoing substance use, use of off label medications, change in frequency of lab monitoring, long term use of benzodiazepines.

Emergency Evaluation: Provides child and adolescent psychiatric emergency evaluations and ongoing crisis services. Documents risk factors and recommendations. Assists staff in developing appropriate crisis plans.

Participates in treatment team meetings as indicated. Attends and participates in medical staff meetings, peer review, quality management activities, and other activities within the scope of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and as assigned by the Medical Director. Sustains and cultivates team working relationships, and effectively collaborates with treatment team members. Collaborates with colleagues in the development of new services/programs/affiliations. Works with clinic staff to maximize access to psychiatric services and promotes efficiency and cost effectiveness of services

The ideal candidate will demonstrate knowledge of, and comply with attendance, work schedule, on-call policies, center policies/procedures, professional/legal requirements, and billing standards; will maintain required training, licensure, and certificates; demonstrate ethical, courteous, and professional behavior and communicate with staff and patients in a timely manner.

Required Qualifications

• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Texas, or the ability to obtain prior to appointment. 
• Board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, or board eligible with a commitment to obtain certification within two years. 
• Eligible for credentialing and privileging by Ascension Seton. 
• Eligible for credentialing and privileging in the local mental health authority. 
• Eligible for appointment as an assistant professor or higher in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 
• Eligible for faculty appointment with The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership, clinical teaching, evaluation, and communication skills. 
• Ability to influence and motivate others at all professional and administrative levels. 
• Innovative self-starter with a commitment to excellence. 
• Possess tenacity, self-motivation and initiative necessary to drive the development and maintenance of established and new programs.  A track record of being able to lead, direct, and influence a team regardless of reporting lines, as well as be a team player.