Description

Performs a variety of patient care activities within Behavioral Health in accordance with established standards and practice. Augments a physician’s ability to provide mental health services to patients; collects and documents data, conducts diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, orders and schedules laboratory studies and professional consultations and provides direct patient care services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to assist physician in diagnosing behavioral health problems and prescribing necessary treatment and services for quality patient care; records the normal and abnormal data. Coordinates interviews and conducts research when needed.
2. Provides psychiatric health services, education, counseling and emotional support.
3. Issues medication prescriptions in accordance with treatment guidelines, orders laboratory tests, interprets and explains the test results to patients. Provides patient education regarding medications, risks, benefits and reasonable outcome expectations.
4. Communicates with patients and engages in follow-up as necessary.
5. Takes patient histories, communicates with family and support individual for patient, and records the date in the patient’s record; writes progress notes; and summaries noting pertinent positive and negative findings; obtains psycho social history relevant to patient care, and assumes responsibility for developing therapeutic relationships with patients. Maintains templates, etc.
6. Monitors progress of patients, report progress to supervising physician, and maintains record of each patient’s progress, consulting with supervising physician when patient’s progress does not meet anticipated and/or predetermined criteria.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

- Skill and ability in electronic medical records applications.

- Ability to work as a member of a team.

- Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally with team members and patients.

- Skill and ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.