Job Description

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, known as "The HARRIS CENTER," is seeking an experienced Physician Assistant (PA) to join our team. The Physician Assistant is a licensed provider with training and certification in advanced medical practice including prescriptive authority, and diagnosis, preferably with a focus in mental health treatment. The focus of care is on health promotion and disease prevention. Such care is delivered within the rules and regulations of the Texas Medical Board (TMB). The PA is prepared to practice in an expanded role to provide mental health care and services to individuals, families or groups in a variety of settings. The PA acts independently and in collaboration with other health care professionals in the delivery of services. The PA's services include but are not limited to assessment, diagnosis, examinations, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic and lab tests, prescription of psychiatric pharmacologic agents, and treatments and non-pharmacological therapies.


Your role in Action:

• Utilizes a systematic process to deliver patient services. This process includes but is not limited to assessment, analysis, planning, implementation of treatment and follow-up of the patient's condition.
• Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and reflects awareness of impact including reporting to appropriate members of the management, supervisory and administrative staff and works independently with minimal supervision.
• Completes and documents comprehensive psychiatric assessments and evaluations for assigned patients.
• As a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and in collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist participates in the development and implementation of plans of care.
• In collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist, provides medication services within established protocol that includes but is not limited to ordering diagnostic tests and tests interpretation, psychiatric medication prescription, and medication monitoring.
• Promotes positive health behaviors and self-care skills through education and counseling of patients.
• Informs, explains and educates patient/family, health care team and community as needed regarding medications, disease processes and health information at level fitting patient, family, team members', and community comprehension
• Performs related work as assigned, adapts to changing work requirements and complies with Agency policies and procedures.

What qualifications you will need:

Education :

• Graduate of a Physician Assistant training program accredited by the American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.
• Licensure as a Physician Assistant in the State of Texas is required.

Experience:

• 1 year as a certified physician assistant in psychiatry (not including clinical hours required for education). 2 years of post-graduate practice experience preferably in the field of psychiatry in an Outpatient Community setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS/ABILITIES

Knowledge of :
• Texas Medical Board (TMB) professional standards of practice.
• Practice Parameters as set forth by the TMB for PAs with Prescriptive Authority.
• Applicable pharmacy rules and regulations.
• Prescription practices and monitoring related to psychopharmacology
• Health Status Assessments, Physical Examinations, Psychiatric Evaluations, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scales (AIMS) and Psychosocial Behavioral Assessments.
• DSM 5 diagnostic criteria and formulation.
• Diagnostic test interpretation (labs, EKG's, etc.)•Crisis intervention techniques.
• Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids.
• Good body mechanics to avoid injury.
• Basic principles of psychiatric/mental health care.

Required Skills
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Effective data collection skills.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Clinically sound decision making.
• Initiative and self-direction with strong time management skills.

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