Clinical Psychologist

JOB SUMMARY

The Clinical Psychologist shall provide Behavioral Health Counseling and Treatment non-personal healthcare services to patients at the Mescalero Indian Hospital in Mescalero, New Mexico. Mescalero Service Unit, Behavioral Health Department clinic service hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The Clinical Psychologist who is expected to perform and successfully possess the following criteria:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adheres to the scope of work and accepts work assignments from the Clinical Director and/or Behavioral Health Director as necessary.
• Provides assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy utilizing a broad range of assessment and therapeutic resources as indicated by the specific needs of child, juvenile, and adult individuals and groups, and their families.
• Is responsible for completeness, timeliness, diagnostic and therapeutic pertinence, and maintenance of clinical and medical psychology professional standards of care for services and documentation.
• Dependent on licensure, administers and prescribes those drugs that are recognized and customarily used for the management of mental, nervous, emotional, behavioral, substance abuse and cognitive diseases or disorders. Orders and interprets laboratory studies and other medical diagnostic procedures, as necessary for adequate pre-treatment health screening, diagnosis of mental, nervous, emotional, behavioral, substance abuse and cognitive disorders and treatment maintenance, including those necessary for the monitoring of potential side effects associated with medications prescribed by the medical psychologist.)
• Provides crisis intervention to include initial assessment, diagnosis and coordination of care. May include coordinating admission in psychiatric hospital for acute behavioral health intervention.
• Promotes and preserves a psychotherapeutic atmosphere among the professional treatment staff, participates in developing treatment programs for patients, and advises and consults with all levels of professional staff concerning psychological characteristics and behavior changes of clients.
• Provides individual, group, and family counseling sessions for patients.
• Provides thorough and concise written documentation of evaluations, treatment and case management services, psychological test summaries, treatment plans, referrals, and correspondence through the Electronic Health Record in a timely manner in accordance to the MSU HIM Internal Control policy.
• Independently diagnoses based on DSM and/or ICD criteria.
• Participates as a full-time member of the Mental Health team in formulating patient treatment plans and treatment recommendations through contribution of psychological and personality assessments and diagnostic evaluations, and knowledge of treatment modalities.
• Conducts psychological tests and functions as an authoritative source of information for differentiating between organic and functional causes of emotional disturbances and/or behaviors.
• Provides consultation to a wide variety of Indian Health Service staff including physicians and other health professionals, paraprofessionals, and mental health clinicians in providing and interpreting psychological evaluations and testing with complete responsibility for actions and advice.
• Provides professional consultation, as directed, to community resources and/or to segments of the organization other than those to which the incumbent is assigned, such as Tribal, State, Federal and private agencies concerned with the welfare of Indian Health Service beneficiaries.
• Receives referrals from other health care professionals for specialty consultation and continued management of Behavioral Health conditions.
• Refers and coordinates contract health care for patients requiring Psychiatric hospital placement, Residential Treatment services or other specialty services pertaining to Behavioral Health
• Performs routine duties to include providing behavioral health counseling, substance abuse counseling, and related mental health services to individuals eligible for services provided by the IHS at the Mescalero Service Unit.
• Attends department meetings for patient care purposes. Record keeping, release of information and patient confidentiality follow HIPAA guidelines. 
• Documents findings in the MSU Electronic Health Record (EHR) at the end of patient encounter according to MSU policy and procedures, AAAHC Standards, and CMS regulations.
• Adheres to guidelines as outlined in the Medical Staff Bylaws, IHS Manual Chapter 14, Mental Health Program Standards, Area Mental Health Guidelines and Service Unit policies and procedures, Professional Guidelines of the American Psychological Association. Joint Commission guidelines and criteria must be met in all clinic and hospital locations.
• Participates in Quality Assurance measures which include regular peer review and case presentations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Active psychologist licensure in the region or state.
• Must obtain and maintain credentialing and privileges at Mescalero Service Unit
• Current BLS certified and maintain certification throughout duration of contract
• Able to provide 3 professional references of the same degree or discipline (ex. LCSW to LCSW, Psych. D to Psych. D)
• Must submit current immunizations as required by the MSU immunization policy.
• Able to provide documents to complete security procedures to include fingerprint cards.

SCHEDULE

• 8-hour shift, Day/ Evening shift Monday to Friday (No nights / No weekends)