Psychiatrist

Duties for the Psychiatrist at VA Bedford Healthcare System will include the following:

• Providing mental health evaluation, psychopharmacology and brief motivational treatments to veterans served in Outpatient and Consultation settings.
• Providing curbside consultation to non-mental health clinicians; providing medical and diagnostic expertise and support as needed
• Implementing and improving Emergency procedures (i.e. suicidal patients).
• Maintaining continual accessibility during working hours via cell phone and beeper for emergent clinical needs or urgent clinical consultations.
• Providing group and individual supervision to support and educate staff and assigned trainees.
• Collaborating in performing program evaluations and analysis for quality management.
• Bearing overall responsibility for the MH treatment of the patient: evaluating and providing optimal treatment, referring to other providers, coordinating with other providers seeing the same patient, seeking consultation when necessary, and approaching treatment within the entire context of available services at this VAMC and other facilities.
• Managing cases efficiently, including thoughtful goal-setting, appointment scheduling, timely completion of requested letters or forms, and terminating treatment or referring to other levels of care when appropriate.
• Working effectively with colleagues within our interdisciplinary care system (both within and outside of the MHSL).
• Involving supervisors, Quality Management, VA Police, and Hospital Administration when appropriate, using appropriate protection of patient information.
• Contributing to an effective quality management system which includes process improvement, innovative system redesign, self-assessment and peer review
• As an expert in communication, arranging to be as available as possible to patients, colleagues, and other staff by keeping contact and schedule information of all kinds updated and fully available.
• Contributing consistently to evidence-based public health interventions such as screening and follow-up of medical and mental health conditions.
• Participating in our academic mission, including participation in Grand Rounds, teaching of medical students and psychiatry residents.
• Being familiar with Medical Staff Rules & Regulations, Hospital Bylaws, Medical Center, MH, and Psychiatry memos, and state law applicable to MH duties.