Job Description

JOB PURPOSE: The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, as part of an integrated health team, provides medication and diagnostic assessment that promotes or restores a patient’s mental and physical health through support from and in cooperation with physicians, family nurse practitioners, case managers, and the multidisciplinary healthcare team; ensuring delivery of whole health care to patients who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. This will include the collaboration and referral to community social service and behavioral health organizations that will support and ensure quality mental health care for patients of El Rio.

The incumbent in this position works with general direction, and has discretion and independent judgment authority with respect to matters of significance in respect to delivery of patient care or the resolution of work problems involving departures from standard policies, interpretations, or procedures within the scope of authority and responsibility for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: QUALITY
• Performs and/or completes all assigned patient care and administrative duties or responsibilities supporting integrated health team operations within established time frames; meeting established rates of performance for the quality and quantity of work for the position; demonstrating a level of quality, efficiency, and accuracy in the employee’s job performance that ensures the highest standards of excellence. Conforms with and adheres to the clinic's Quality Assurance program standards and requirements; to include all meaningful use standards.
• Demonstrates at all times a professional attitude and acceptable job performance for all duties and responsibilities supporting the implementation of established goals and objectives for the patient’s behavioral and integrated health.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate electronic patient records while remaining in compliance with all HIPAA and Confidentiality policies and procedures and per billing requirements. Also responsible for documenting all activities associated with counseling and group interventions to stabilize the patient. Complete all clinical documentation clearly, thoroughly, accurately and within timeframes specified by El Rio policies and procedures.

SERVICE
• Develops medication and/or care plans in collaboration with the patient and his/her identified support that is reflective of patient’s goals and that provides support and/or referrals to services that will aid the patient in achieving set goals and objectives, such as:
◦ Perform psychiatric evaluations for adult patients for the purpose of routine care; conduct onsite crisis intervention and triage;
◦ Screen for dementia and other cognitive impairments; refer patients to neurology and other specialists as appropriate;
◦ Conduct Serious Mental Illness eligibility determinations for Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) enrolled patients;
◦ Presents options and provides guidance to the patient as he/she determines goals and objectives of treatment and in determining modes and duration of treatment;
◦ Complete controlled substance agreements specific to behavioral health needs.
• Facilitates patient referrals to specialized mental health service providers as needed; provides on-site crisis intervention, assessment, triage and counseling.
◦ Coordinates and collaborates with community based providers, local hospitals and public safety officials as appropriate.
• Conducts patient assessments, triage, and consultation if requested by medical team to obtain detailed psychosocial history and risk factors, assessing psychological/social needs and providing crisis intervention or individual/family/group therapy to stabilize the patient.
• Utilizes various diagnostics such as the DSM-IV-R, PHQ 2 & 9 or other tools for completing patient assessments and obtaining information needed to deliver comprehensive integrated treatment and ensure appropriate referrals to outside services or support.
• Cultivates education and self-management skills to targeted populations with comorbid medical and mental health conditions, chronic medical disease, behavioral health concerns and other health related conditions that impact bio-psychosocial health and functioning. Utilize a variety of intervention approaches including but not limited to: Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness.
• Maintains exceptional level of customer service; address and resolve complaints; serve as an example by providing excellent service to internal and external customers, employees and patients. Demonstrates and models El Rio Behavioral Standards in all interactions with patients, co-workers and visitors.

PEOPLE
• Oversee and supervise the clinical performance of assigned licensed behavioral health staff in collaboration with Health Center Leadership.
◦ Complete and maintain Office of Behavioral Health Licensing requirements for clinical supervision;
◦ Communicate any issues or concerns with the performance of assigned behavioral health staff to the Health Center Leadership.
• Facilitates clinical trainings, workshops or other meeting with medical team members as needed to enhance knowledge of mental health challenges, to promote the development of a cohesive treatment team and to coordinate patient services.
• Establishes, builds and maintains collaborative relationships with medical providers and other staff members through familiarization with patient panels, clinical staffing, or team meetings, and maintains consistent and effective communication.

COMMUNITY
• Plans and coordinates appropriate patient referrals; following up with the patient and referred agencies or services, monitoring and managing the patient’s progress throughout the service delivery system.
• Meets with community social service and behavioral health organization staff to discuss and address any programmatic concerns and services.
• Participates in organizational and community events promoting mental health education and treatment.
• Serves as preceptor to nursing students completing clinical training in the special populations and behavioral health areas.

FINANCE
• Optimizes organizational productivity/revenue by providing the patient with timely appointments and any necessary follow up appointments.
• Complies with billing submission and documentation requirements for enrolled members.
• Submits all activity encounters within the time frame established by El Rio policy and procedures and state licensing.

GROWTH
• Contributes to the expected level of productivity for behavioral health services by scheduling and keeping all appointments and submitting encounters in a timely manner.
• Supports and participates in quality improvement activities through team participation, data collection process change implementations and other activities.
• Provides education to providers and staff regarding behavioral health issues, in order to integrate care appropriately.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment in compliance with all Policies and Procedures including but not limited to work areas, workstations, examination rooms, hand washing, infection prevention and control etc. for this position.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and proficiency with the application of all compliance and reporting requirements respective to Joint Commission Certification (JCC) standards.

Minimum Education and Experience:
• Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with appropriate degrees from an accredited college or university.

If applicable, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, and must be directly related to the functions and responsibilities of the job.

Required Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:
• Current Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner license in good standing from Arizona State Board of Nursing
• Valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Certificate
• Complete and maintain Office of Behavioral Health Licensing (OBHL) requirements for clinical supervision
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers.
• Level I fingerprint clearance card: current valid and in good standing or have applied for it within seven working days after beginning employment.
• Employees in this position are required to have reliable transportation that can meet any operational reassignments of the organization during the workday. If an employee is driving during work hours, the employee is required to possess a valid driver’s license and must comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities:
• Three (3) years’ experience providing behavioral health services.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to speak, read and write in both languages.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

El Rio Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age 40 and over, disability, genetic information, military status, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by law or regulation.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

All employees are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and, will be subject to post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal and State regulations for alcohol and controlled substance testing. Employees in positions holding responsibility for the safety and welfare of others will also be classified as safety sensitive.

El Rio Health is a Non-profit 501 (c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and abides by all applicable federal Drug-Free Workplace standards.