JOB TITLE: Bi-Lingual (Spanish) Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

INTRODUCTION

Under the supervision of Unity Health Care's (UHC) Senior Director of Behavioral Health, the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner shall provide diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic services to UHC patients who are suffering from mental disorders, as appropriate. Service sites may include UHC community health centers (CHC), homeless sites, and the Department of Corrections (DOC), Central Detention Facility and Correctional Treatment Facility, Health Services Division. By the very nature of the profession, the level of assignment will call for a maximum degree of knowledge, professional judgment, and ingenuity.

MAJOR DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Health outcomes

• Performs patient care and mental health provider duties in a safe way that is compliant with policies and procedures of Unity Health Care. This includes the following:
  1. Obtains clinical histories.
  2. Performs full range of psychiatric services to include: examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients.
  3. Determines tests needed, orders and interprets clinical and laboratory results.
  4. Assists the in the development of comprehensive and therapeutic treatment plans for an assigned caseload and provides direct services based on established treatment.
  5. Evaluates psychotropic medication needs of UHC patients and recommend the appropriate treatments to patients.
  6. Manages on-site crisis intervention.
  7. Periodically monitors, records, and provides appropriate feedback on clinical service delivery by the mental health team.
  8. Formulates diagnostic and treatment recommendations for patients and present findings to treatment teams (i.e., physicians, social workers, psychologists, and nursing staff as appropriate)
  9. Prepares formal written reports on evaluations and recommendations for the authorized referral agencies.
  10. Referrals to hospitals, specialists, or other providers when needed
• Actively participates in quality improvement initiatives at the Center and seeks to continuously improve the quality of care for their patients.
• Conducts thorough peer reviews and provides constructive feedback to peers
• Documents in the medical chart in an appropriate and timely manner
• Reviews and implements clinical best practices and optimizes CME time to stay up to date
• Collaborates with BH leadership and staff on panel and population management
• Maintains clinical privileges and responds to inquiries in a timely and complete manner
• Updates patient registries as needed to maintain population health
• Attends meetings as assigned

Patient Experience

• Reviews patient experience data with Senior Director BH and Medical Director and translates into action steps to ensure a welcoming, patient-centered environment for all patients
• Communicates to patients respectfully and partners with them in their care by spending time actively listening and clearly explaining their recommendations
• Provides culturally competent and high-quality care
• Uses translation services when needed
• Timely in all patient facing duties- visits, returning phone calls
• Responds to patient complaints and works towards resolution for the patient
• Provides excellent customer service and professionalism towards patients
• Maintains a clinical schedule that allows access for patients, including providing sufficient notice for time off, and providing options for patients to be seen when rescheduled on short notice
• Provide concise documentation of care and recommendations in patient's medical record
• Determine the appropriateness of the patient receiving services in the primary care setting, and assisting with implementation of treatment plans
• Formulate behavioral health interventions appropriate to primary care setting
• Provide brief follow ups, including relapse -prevention education
• Teach patients, families, and primary care treatment team, prevention, and treatment techniques
• Works with Health Center staff to ensure continuity and thoroughness of care
• Provide timely and succinct feedback to primary care providers regarding consultations, findings and recommendations
• Promptness to work

Care team well-being

• Embraces team mentality- including building trust, exchanging feedback, and showing appreciation with team members. Leads by example and works closely with others to provide comprehensive, team-based care
• Provides recognition to providers and team members who are performing well
• Teaches and coaches staff members to work at the top of their ability
• Promotes education and skill-building to enhance psychological and physical health
• Assists primary health care providers in recognizing and treating patients with mental health concerns
• Participates in student and resident teaching, including with partner hospital
• Attends and actively engages at team, center and organization-wide meetings
• Maintains work-life balance and recognizes when they may be experiencing burnout and takes steps to improve it
• Demonstrates flexibility and agility in working with others to meet the needs of patients

Financial health

• Monitors own productivity and utilization levels and works with behavioral health and health center leadership to identify opportunities to optimize visit volume
• Is willing to see patients if needed (e.g., late patients, walk-in patients) as the schedule and time allows
• Educates patients on the value of a health care visit
• Leverages nursing visits and other staff where appropriate
• Participates in population health efforts
• Works collaboratively with Senior Director Behavioral Health and Medical Directors to schedule patients to promote access
• Creatively identifies way to improve flow and efficiency in the day
• Locks notes in a timely manner (within 48 hours) and fixes and addresses any outstanding claims

Other duties

• Serves on committee(s) as requested by Senior BH Director, Deputy CMO, or CMO (e.g. Behavioral Health Integration, Behavioral Health QI, etc.).
• Performs other duties as assigned.