Jurisdiction: Cortland County

Jurisdictional Class: Competitive

Adopted: 7-28-11

Medical Director/Psychiatrist

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Community Services, the Medical Director is responsible for oversight and management of all medical activities associated with and performed at the Cortland County Mental Health Clinic and Horizon House CDT Program. This includes clinical oversight of psychiatrists, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, and nursing staff. Responsible for case reviews, treatment plan approvals and reviews, psychiatric evaluations, medication consultations, and oversight of clinic admissions and discharges.

The Medical Director/Psychiatrist consults with the Director of Community Services to apply psychiatric expertise to the planning, coordination and operation of the mental hygiene services provided within Cortland County. The Medical Director makes recommendations to the Director of Community Services towards the development of an effective and comprehensive mental hygiene system of care, and acts as his designee to perform assessments and evaluations.

Primary duties of the position involve the direct provision of services, consultation and clinical oversight of medical staff, and completion of required documentation including assessments and evaluations. The Medical Director/Psychiatrist collaborates with Clinical Director and serves as a member of the Management Team of the Cortland County Mental Health Clinic in policy development and process review, to support efficient and effective client centered, family focused services. Administrative supervision is not a function of this position. The Medical Director/Psychiatrist does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)

Manage the medical aspects of a patient’s care, including the performance of a diagnostic evaluation and pertinent follow-up treatment, while also taking responsibility for oversight of all other aspects of care;

Participates in the treatment planning process, and reviews and approves all elements of the treatment plan including: appropriateness of services, needs and strengths, goals and objectives, diagnosis, criteria for discharge, and identification of personnel who will provide services;

Oversees, evaluates and informs clinical practice within the agency in conjunction with the Clinical Director, to ensure the clinic operates from a solid clinical foundation and produces the desired program and client outcomes;

Provides direct clinical supervision and oversight of medical staff;

Provides psychiatric consultation, examination and emergency backup for law

enforcement agencies and courts within the county, court evaluations as requested and hospital commitments as indicated;

Acts as a designee of the Director of Community Services as defined in

Mental Hygiene Law;

Ensures the clinic’s medical services are in compliance with accepted professional medical practices and all federal, state and local healthcare laws;

Participates in overall planning and development of existing and new clinic services; recommends program and facility modification as necessary; functions as a senior member of the agency management team;

Provides supervision and collaborates with the Clinical Director in the development of annual performance evaluations for medical staff to ensure high quality service.

Maintains required program certifications;

Participates in the recruitment, hiring and training of medical staff;

Maintains effective professional relationships with other service providers and community organizations in the interest of clients’ and clinic goals;

Performs other duties, responsibilities and related tasks as assigned;

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Comprehensive knowledge of the modern theory and practice of psychiatry;

Thorough knowledge of basic psychiatric sciences, community psychiatry, medical and social psychology, psychopathology, psychotherapy and the function and pertinent pathology of the nervous system;

Thorough knowledge of local ordinances and state and federal laws pertaining to the care and treatment of persons with a mental disability or disorder;

The ability to evaluate the effectiveness of services designed to prevent psychiatric disabilities and to promote the care, treatment and training appropriate for this purpose.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Possession of a license to practice medicine at the time of application. Possession of a license to practice medicine in the State of New York at the time of appointment and Board eligibility or certification to practice psychiatry.