Medical Director- Behavioral Health Services at Optimus Health Care

Join a Team That Makes a Difference at Optimus Health Care!

Are you passionate about providing high-quality, patient-centered care? Optimus Health Care—the largest provider of primary health care services in Fairfield County—is looking for dedicated professionals to join our team! With multiple locations in Bridgeport, Stratford, and Stamford, our mission is to be a lifelong health care partner, dedicated to achieving optimal wellness for the communities we serve.

Optimus is looking for a Medical Director for our Behavioral Health Services to join our team. This is a part-time role based in Bridgeport and the poistion can be between 20-32 hours per week.

The Medical Director of Behavioral Health (BH) Services will oversee the medical aspects and medical staff of the BH Department and will collaborate closely with the Director of Clinical Outpatient Behavioral Health Services to assist with the integration of BH Services and staff at Optimus Health Care, Inc., (Optimus) while providing comprehensive behavioral health care to a diverse and underserved patient population. In performing this work, the Medical Director will ensure the execution of our mission to provide high quality, safe, culturally appropriate, financially, and physically accessible behavioral health services to the medically underserved and people of all ages to whom we provide care. We anticipate that this position will dedicate 90% of his/her time on direct patient care and 10% of his/her time on administrative duties. This position is responsible for the overall management of the BH medical staff as it pertains to clinical issues. Additionally, this position will have oversight and development of activities depending upon need. This position provides guidance and consultation to administration, providers, and nursing staff regarding the role and development of BH services and represents Optimus BH services in the community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Knowledge of the assessment and treatment of the full range of mental disorders including familiarity with the use of psychotropic medications. This includes skills in assessments and report writing, counseling (short-term treatment and crisis intervention), support group organization and facilitation, and consultation).
2. Working knowledge of the local community mental health resources.
3. Knowledge of and commitment to providing care in an integrated model in which BH providers work in collaboration with primary care clinicians, psychiatrists, and nursing staff to treat patients.
4. Excellent managerial skills with the ability to plan, organize and follow through in a timely manner.
5. Ability to provide leadership and guidance in a supervisory role and the flexibility to function as a team member at the management level.
6. Knowledge of legal requirements associated with the provision of mental health services, i.e., HIPAA, responding to requests from legal authorities, court orders, and the like regarding patient information and testimony.
7. Knowledge of general medical practice models and processes such as office procedures, medical records, and health insurance billing.
8. Liaison with outside agencies, clinicians and professional staff as needed.
9. Consult with professional staff regarding patient care as needed.
10. Maintain patient documentation in an accurate and timely fashion.
11. Actively participate in Performance Improvement activities and projects as requested by Chief Medical Officer.Director
12. In collaboration with Director, will develop a plan to expand BH Services.
13. Regularly assess the mental status of patients to determine the acuity of illness and danger to self or others, and take immediate action, if needed.                                                                                                                                                                               ADDITIONAL GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
    1. Ability to collaborate with diverse individuals and situations including strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
    2. Ability to understand and respond effectively and with sensitivity to special populations. Special populations include those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, economic standing, disability, migrant, and seasonal workers, homeless, people living with HIV/AIDS, and others.
    3. Knowledge of continuous quality improvement processes.
    4. Proficient with computers & applicable software (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet, Electronic Medical Records, and other applicable software).
    5. Ability to travel for training, collaboration with other organizations, oversight of satellite clinics, and to other areas of community, as necessary.
    6. Ability to work sensitively with a variety of personalities at varying organizational levels.
    7. Ability to use leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities and can accept and institute change.
    8. Ability to clarify goals, coordinate multiple projects concurrently, prioritize effectively and complete on schedule.
    9. Ability to function under stress with multiple interruptions. 
        
       EDUCATION: Board Certified in Psychiatry or Eligible for certification.
        
       EXPERIENCE: Five plus years of direct clinical experience with community health populations, preferably working in an integrated model. Two or more years of experience supervising and mentoring employees, including experience as an approved Supervisor.Two or more years in behavioral health program administration, preferably in a medical clinic setting.Experience administrating Medicare and Medicaid programs preferred.Administrative tasks, clinical programming, consultancy, and delivery of clinical supervision.Sound clinical skills in providing clinical evaluations, crisis intervention treatment, diagnostic and treatment planning skills, and the delivery of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy to a wide range of patients and modalities (individual, couples, and groups). Team building skills.Familiarity with tele-medicine and prior experience a plus
       LANGUAGE SKILLS: Facilitation of medical Spanish helpful
       LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION: Licensed to practice psychiatry in the State of Connecticut.                                                                                                                                                                                 Working for Optimus: • OHC provides a fun, fast-paced working environment, where our commitment to quality is present in every job function. 
       • 100% Outpatient Setting
       * Excellent health & welfare benefit options
       • Competitive Compensation 
       • Optimus and its caring, multilingual staff proudly serve our community in a patient-centered environment.
       *NHSC Student Loan Repayment, if eligible                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Optimus is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees as protected by applicable federal and/or state law.