Consult Liaison Child Psychiatrist

The Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, in conjunction with Seton Family of Doctors ("SFOD") and Ascension Seton, is seeking a board certified/board eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to join our clinical faculty in Austin, Texas. We seek a physician who will help our Department achieve our goal of working with our community partners to develop clinical, educational and research initiatives that revolutionize how people get and stay mentally healthy in Central Texas and beyond. Student loan forgiveness is available for faculty of the Department of Psychiatry through the Texas Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program.

We seek candidates committed to providing exemplary care and treatment that restores hope and helps patients live healthier, fuller lives. A clinical assignment will occur through our Department's collaborations with Seton Healthcare Family with the physician providing clinical care as a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist at Dell Children's Medical Center. Dell Children's Medical Center is the only free standing children's hospital and the only pediatric level 1 trauma center in Central Texas. Our Consultation-Liaison Service is an integrated psychiatry and psychology service that focuses on addressing the psychological and psychiatric needs of our medically complex children in the hospital. We serve as a primary site rotation for psychiatry and psychology trainees as well as medical students.

Our comprehensive pediatric mental health service line also includes a partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient program, consultation-liaison services, and general outpatient services, including embedded behavioral health in pediatric subspecialty services. As part of the Texas Mental Health Care Consortium, we have launched the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), a telephone consultation line for pediatric primary care providers and Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT), a school based telehealth program. We are also integrated in our local mental health community clinics.

Our physicians provide valuable training and education to the next generation of mental health clinicians through our child psychiatry fellowship program and pediatric psychology training program.

The physician would also work with our Dell Children's Psychiatry Team to provide on-call coverage on our Mental Health Unit and within the hospital.

The successful candidate's appointment within the Department of Psychiatry at Dell Medical School requires regular participation in educational activities with medical students and residents. In addition, the physician will have the opportunity for collaborations that allow for the pursuit of innovative clinical programming and research initiatives.

The Dell Medical School, the first new medical school to be built at a tier-one research university in nearly fifty years, welcomed its inaugural class in 2016. The school is committed to redesigning academic medicine and revolutionizing how people get and stay healthy, by educating leaders, developing new models of care, and advancing innovation from health products to health care delivery. The Seton Healthcare Family is a member of Ascension Health, the largest not-for-profit health network in the nation.

Austin has been designated by US News & World Report as one of the top ten "Best Places to Live" for several years. This growing metropolis is considered "the live music capital of the world," a high-tech growth hub, and home to one of the largest state universities in the country.

Primary Duties

1. Demonstrates thorough knowledge and child/adolescent psychiatry: understands the developmental aspects of treatment and assessment; possesses the communication skills necessary to obtain information through the clinical interview and interpret age specific responses to treatment; understands the impact of various psychosocial systems on treatment; understands age specific psychopharmacology.

2. Provides and appropriately documents in person and/or telemedical psychiatric evaluations consistent with the standard of care and in accordance with any applicable guidelines and documentation requirements. Psychiatric diagnosis is supported by clinical findings.

3. Provides ongoing in person and/or telemedical medication management services consistent with the standard of care and in accordance with applicable guidelines.

4. Provides child and adolescent psychiatric emergency evaluations and ongoing crisis services. Documents risk factors and recommendations. Assists staff in developing appropriate crisis plan.

5. Prescribes medication in collaboration with the patient/guardian based on diagnosis and target symptoms, and in compliance with any applicable center formulary. Applies cost/benefit/risk analysis. Accounts for other medical conditions in making medical decisions and collaborates with other professionals as necessary. Complies with procedures for acquisition of medication through patient assistance programs.

6. Orders lab work as indicated by patient need and in compliance with applicable rules and guidelines. Reviews lab results in a timely manner, and adjusts treatment as indicated.

7. Evaluates and monitors effectiveness and tolerability of psychiatric medications. Provides patient education and ensures appropriate consents are obtained. Performs AIMS and other assessments as applicable.

8. Clearly documents rationale for treatment that deviates from usual standards, such as polypharmacy, treatment of patients with ongoing substance use, use of off label medications, change in frequency of lab monitoring, long term use of benzodiazepines.

9. Documents all services in a professional manner, using approved medical records system and forms. All services are documented within 24 hours of service delivery. Documents pertinent information between appointments, including phone calls, medication changes, referrals.

10. Participates in treatment team meetings as indicated. Attends and participates in medical staff meetings, peer review, quality management activities, and other activities within the scope of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and as assigned by the Medical Director.

11. Demonstrates knowledge of, and complies with attendance, work schedule, on-call policies, center policies/procedures, professional/legal requirements, and billing standards. Maintains required training, licensure, and certificates.

12. Demonstrates ethical, courteous, and professional behavior. Treats patients and staff with dignity and respect. Communicates with staff and patients in a timely manner. Demonstrates ability to enhance positive team working relationships, and effectively collaborates with treatment team members.

13. Meets productivity standards as developed by the Medical Director. Demonstrates flexibility and collaboration in the development of new services/programs/affiliations. Works with clinic staff to maximize access to psychiatric services and promotes efficiency and cost effectiveness of services.

14. For CPAN program, provides telephone- and text-based consultations to primary care providers (PCPs), and telehealth evaluations to children and adolescents. Offer education, clinical recommendations, and referral information to equip PCPs to manage mental health cases in the primary care setting.

• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of Texas, or the ability to obtain prior to appointment.
• Board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, or board eligible with a commitment to obtain certification within two years.
• Eligible for credentialing and privileging by Ascension Seton.
• Eligible for credentialing and privileging in the local mental health authority.
• Eligible for appointment as an assistant professor or higher in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
• Demonstrated leadership, clinical teaching, evaluation, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence/motivate others at all professional and administrative levels.
• Must be an innovative self-starter with a commitment to excellence.
• Must possess tenacity, self-motivation and initiative necessary to drive the development and maintenance of established and new programs.
• A track record of being able to lead, direct, and influence a team regardless of reporting lines, as well as be a team player.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.