Staff Psychiatrist

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of each other, teamwork, and inclusivity? HSCS is dedicated to building a diverse community atmosphere where employees feel valued, supported, and accepted while providing specialized care for Texans in need.
The HSCS is comprised of nine psychiatric hospitals located throughout the state and one youth residential psychiatric center in Waco.
The HSCS is a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission.
The hospitals provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based.
If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.
The Psychiatrist III performs highly advanced psychiatric assessment work and reports directly to the State Hospital Medical Director.
Work involves conducting psychiatric activities, monitoring trends, diagnosing, and treating State Hospital patients.
Administers quality and appropriate specialized psychiatric treatments, assessments, and procedures as needed.
Reviews and analyzes system data to ensure recovery plans are individualized and decisions are made in conjunction with the Recovery Team.
Ensures that the recovery plans are implemented as designed by providing consultation or training as needed to direct care staff.
Attends weekly/monthly meetings and leads/chairs discussions to inform and create buy-in to necessary changes and follows through on the implementation plans.
Participates in committees of the State Hospital Governing Body and performance improvement activities.
Participates in or directs, as requested, any other clinically related committee that is formed for the State Hospitals to recommend guidelines and standards of care in response to changes in research literature, regulatory environment, or public health as requested by the State Hospital Medical Director or State Hospitals Central Administration Chief of Medical Services.
Plans, assigns, and guides the work of others in the process of the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care.
May supervise others depending upon State Hospital structure.
Performs other duties relative to the position.
Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure efficient operation of the patient care unit.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Essential Job Functions: • Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift, and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to complete psychiatric assessments of individuals and administers psychiatric treatments and medications within the State Hospital policies/procedures as deliberated with and agreed upon.
Conducts all required performance improvement reviews with recovery team members as required by The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and State Hospital System policies.
Attends and participates in other meetings and committees as requested.
Performs medication reviews and other audits in accordance with policy.
Plans, assigns, and guides the work of others in the process of the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care per standards.
• Establishes physician-patient relationship by direct face-to-face contact or telemedicine.
For newly admitted individuals, contact must be established immediately upon admission.
Treats each individual with the most effective medication and the most effective dosage.
Reviews lab work, modifies recovery plans, and records deliberations and recommendations accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Develops and implements psychiatric recovery plans documenting how supports and interventions are customized for the individuals’ psychiatric needs as well as their strengths and preferences.
Documents how recovery plans are person-centered and least restrictive interventions based on risk vs.
benefit analysis and treatment history, and how psychiatric supports and interventions are integrated with the supports and interventions from other disciplines.
Develops and organizes implementation timeframes and provides guidance to the recovery team and direct care staff while following HHSC and local policies and procedures, TJC standards, CMS conditions of participation, TAC and other state statutes.
• Reads and analyzes medical records, leads discussions in staff meetings, participates in conference calls concerning clinical psychiatric issues, and interacts with and makes recommendations to family members, guardians, and Legally Authorized Representatives (LAR) when requested, and obtains timely medication consents.
• Ensures collaboration between psychiatry and neurology for dually diagnosed individuals.
Provides Neurologist with necessary information and ensures that psychiatry notes reflect this collaboration.
• Consults with other psychiatrists, medical staff, psychologists, and others to collaboratively develop psychiatric interventions, identify environmental factors that may impact psychiatric care, and participate in restraint reduction efforts by coordinating medication and behavior therapy.
Manages acute psychiatric care including authorizing emergency restraints and writing orders for the emergency use of medication.
• Reviews and monitors system data and trends related to the quality of psychiatric care provided at the State Hospital.
Addresses issues identified through monitoring of data and presents changes to the recovery plan.
Attends meetings and chairs discussions to inform and create buy-in to necessary changes and follows through on hospital performance improvement plans.
Participates in desk and onsite audits by reviewing records and applying audit tools.
• Maintains open and regular communication with the Medical Director, Superintendent, and other staff to ensure the transfer of needed information for the continuity of services.
Participates in various Medical Staff Committees and Sub-committees (Utilization Management, Infection Control, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, etc.
) designed to ensure patients are receiving quality care.
• Participates in mandatory training per HHSC policies and procedures, HIPAA policies, state and federal rules and regulations, and TJC standards and CMS conditions of participations to provide quality psychiatric services and care to individuals served.
• Develops, implements, organizes, and provides leadership in the area of Psychiatric Services following HHSC policies and procedures, state and federal rules and regulations, and TJC standards and CMS conditions of participations in order to provide quality psychiatric services and care to individuals served.
• May manage other staff providing regular feedback, conducting performance evaluations, and taking corrective action when needed, depending upon hospital organizational structure.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities: • Knowledge of methods and procedures in the field of general medicine and general psychiatry; and of principles of the development, implementation, and documentation of person-centered individualized care and recovery plans.
• Knowledge of the principles of psychiatric treatment and ability to work collaboratively with staff.
• Knowledge of the state formulary guidelines for maximum doses, and if exceeded, provides detailed documentation of exception, ensuring efficacy, safety, and tolerance.
• Knowledge and skill in providing services to people with psychiatric disorders in an in-patient hospital setting.
• Knowledge and skill in effectively using an electronic healthcare system and Microsoft Office products.
• Skill in the care and treatment of patients; in the use of medical and psychiatric diagnostic and treatment tools and equipment; and in conducting psychiatric research when necessary.
• Ability to assess, diagnose, and prescribe/supervise treatment to assigned patients while conforming to local policy, Texas Administrative Code, and applicable laws to decrease psychiatric symptoms/disorders.
• Ability to direct psychiatric activities; to examine, diagnose, and treat mental disorders; to interpret psychological diagnoses and analyses; develop policies and procedures; and to prepare and supervise the preparation of psychiatric histories and medical records.
• Ability to solve medically difficult issues by considering opinions of consultants and/or appropriate literature including accepted guidelines.
• Ability to work with the recovery team by facilitating a unified, effective team approach using the expertise of all team members and involving patients in order to ensure high quality patient care.
• Ability to participate with other psychiatric staff to provide continuous quality improvement and to promote quality care by adhering to the plan of improvement and state initiatives.
• Ability to manage “polypharmacy” and to justify and document when the use of multiple psychotropic medications is necessary.
• Ability to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to work independently using good judgement and advanced time management skills.
• Ability to participate in annual training as well as any other required specific training in order to ensure up-to-date skills and knowledge in required areas such as CPR and safe use of restraints.
• Ability to organize and present information effectively, both orally and in writing.
Registration or Licensure Requirements: • Applicants must hold an M.
D.
or D.
O.
• Must possess valid Texas driver’s license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date.
Applicants with an out-of-state driver’s license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure.
Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.
Initial Selection Criteria: • Applicant must be licensed to practice medicine in Texas.
• Applicant must be board certified or have successfully completed a four-year psychiatry residency program.
A minimum of 10 years’ experience as a practicing psychiatrist may be substituted for board certification.
• At least three years’ experience working as a board-certified psychiatrist is preferred.
• Experience working with people with psychiatric disorders is preferred.
Additional Information: Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, and HHS OIG list of Excluded Individuals/Entities.
Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
Waco Center for Youth applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position.
The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.
Occasional other shift and weekend work is required along with rotating holidays.
Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza.
All these diseases are vaccine preventable.
As a result, state hospital policy requires employees be vaccinated according to their level of contact with individuals.
In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.
If you need assistance completing the online application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747.
HHS agencies use E-Verify.
You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.
If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747.
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
Waco Center for Youth is a psychiatric residential treatment facility that serves teenagers ages 13 through 17 with emotional difficulties and/or behavioral problems.
Waco Center for Youth bases its treatment philosophy on the belief that both behavior change and an understanding of self and others are equally important in achieving significant long term success in treatment.
The mission of Waco Center for Youth is “to give each youth a chance for change” by providing comprehensive psychiatric residential treatment services to emotionally disturbed adolescents of the state of Texas.
The facility is operated by the Health and Human Services Commission and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Facilities.
MOS Code: 60U, 60W, 210X, 92, MED10, 44PX.
Note: Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to: 60U, 60W, 210X, 92, MED10, 44PX.
All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position.
For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://www.
hr.
sao.
state.
tx.
us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.
aspx.
Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to Jobs at HHSC and DSHS HHS agencies use E-Verify.
You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.
If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747.
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.