Forensic Psychiatrist

THE PRACTICE

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services – Warm Springs, MT

The mission of the Department of Public Health and Human Services is to promote and protect the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of all Montanans. The Department’s Healthcare Facilities Division (HFD) oversees the seven state-operated healthcare facilities, including the Montana State Hospital. This job will serve as HFD’s Chief Medical Officer and is responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance and enhancement of all clinical and medical services and programs, medical policies and procedures, and quality assurance programs and activities. The position oversees and directs all aspects of medical care provided to patients, clients, and residents by the state-operated facilities. They will interact with all other parts of the organization including Facility Administrators, nursing leadership, therapy, psychology, fiscal, personnel, quality improvement, and health information.

Forensic Psychiatrist 

Job Overview: Evaluation and treatment of patients with complex medical and psychiatric problems. Provides diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric inpatients through supervision of multidisciplinary treatment teams, direct service psychotherapy-chemotherapy, and preparation of psychiatric-legal evaluations and reports. 

Major Duties or Responsibilities:

• Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment staff with ultimate medical-legal responsibility for the admission, transfer, and discharge of patients.
• On admission of each patient to the hospital, responsible for documenting in the medical record the reason for admission, mental status, psychiatric-medical diagnosis, physical exam, and treatment orders.
• Evaluates patients for physical health problems and consults with and refers to primary care physicians in the Hospital's medical clinic as indicated.
• Prescribes medication and care as determined.
• Refers patients to physicians, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, mental health centers, social services, and other professionals and agencies as needed by the patient.
• Works with other members of a unit treatment team to develop a treatment program,including rules and therapeutic activities for patients assigned to the team.
• Completes documentation, draftsreports, develops treatment plans, conducts evaluationsas required by Hospital policies and state and federal regulations and standards.
• Determines appropriateness of home visits, pre-placement visits, conditional release, anddischarges, and writes orders in the medical record allowing release.
• Hospital Wide Peer Services: 

• • Carries out other appropriate duties as requested by the Medical Director. 
  • Serves on Hospital committees as assigned by the Medical Director or the Hospital Administrator. 
  • Participates in, and provides for other staff, continuing education, and training programs. 
  • Participates in medical staff activities, providing input into hospital policy and patient care issues. 
  • Consults with other professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and attorneys as needed to make patient care decisions. 
  • Maintains liaison communication with community physicians, mental health professionals, and drug/ alcohol programs.
• Physical and Environmental Demands:  

• • Must be able to work closely with patients. The incumbent makes regular visits to various work environments throughout the hospital including residences, and patient units which may subject the individual to unpredictable patient behaviors. The position requires standing, walking, and sitting to perform the essential duties. Must be willing to go to all on-campus patient care units. Must be willing to adjust working schedule to ensure coverage.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors): 

• • General practice of psychiatric medicine for adults. 
  • Understanding of the major psychiatric diagnoses and how the diagnosis may interrelate with medical symptoms and illnesses; 
  • Understanding of the use of common psychotherapeutic agents and of the statutory requirements relating to the practice of medicine. 
  • Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with people; excellent communication skills; basic understanding of the medical needs of the served population; basic understanding of systems design, development, and management. 
  • Accurately assess, diagnosis, and treat or recommend treatment for psychiatric and medical conditions. 
  • Work comfortably and congenially within a team-oriented work setting. 

Minimum Qualifications

• A Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree and completion of an appropriate residency program approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association.
• Licensed to practice medicine in the State of Montana or will obtain license to practice medicine in the State of Montana within twelve months of starting the position. 

THE BENEFITS

• $360,000.00 Annually for Full-Time (40-hours per week) W-2 Employees
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Attractive 401K and Competitive Company Match
• Generous Annual Bonuses
• PTO and CME Accrual

THE AREA

• Warm Springs located near Deer Lodge, Butte and Anaconda was named for the nearby hot springs. Nearby Lost Creek State Park features spectacular grey limestone cliffs that rise 1,200 feet above the canyon's narrow floor. The Pintler Scenic Route, a 63-mile drive, starts in nearby Anaconda, one of Montana's most historic towns and travels to Georgetown Lake and Philipsburg and is a wonderful alternative to Interstate 90 when traveling between Butte and Missoula. The community is the site of Montana State Hospital, the only long-term psychiatric hospital operated by the state of Montana. The hospital was founded by the Territorial Government of Montana in 1877. The State of Montana purchased the hospital in 1912 and renamed it Warm Springs State Hospital in 1965.[3] The "warm springs" are located on the hospital campus. Hot water seeps from a limestone cone that is about 40 feet high. The Native Americans called this the "Lodge of the Whitetailed Deer" giving the Deer Lodge Valley its name. There are no community services other than a bar and convenience store on the frontage road and a post office (zip code 59756) on the hospital campus. Brown trout fishing can be found in the Clark Fork River just east of Warm Springs and in the ponds on the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area.