Psychiatrist Physician Specialist-Homeless Population

Job Description

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Housing for Health division provides housing and services to people with complex medical and behavioral health conditions. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable Los Angeles County residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability by delivering an integrated system of care connecting housing, medical and behavioral health services, and income supports.

The psychiatrist position will be assigned to the new DHS Housing for Health Mobile Clinic Team and provide direct patient care to patient experiencing homelessness in the unsheltered settings. Direct patient care will be provided in a mobile clinic, encampments and on the streets. The psychiatrist will supervise and guide the work of the behavioral health unit of the street medicine which includes clinical social workers, substance abuse counselors and community health workers. The psychiatrist will have a panel of patients who are high risk with complex behavioral health issues. The provider is expected to provide medication assisted treatment for those with opioid use disorder in collaboration with the substance abuse counselor. Expertise in addiction psychiatry preferred and x-waiver to prescribe buprenorphine will be required.

This psychiatrist will provide clinical consultation/expertise to inquiries by the medical providers, clinical social workers, and substance abuse counselors of the DHS street medicine teams as well as to other outreach teams. In collaboration with the Mobile Clinic Medical Director, the psychiatrist will develop clinical protocols and provide ongoing training concerning behavioral health for the street medicine team. The psychiatrist will participate in team meetings, case conferences, and other meetings designed to improve coordinator in care. The psychiatrist will report to the Mobile Clinic Medical Director.

Essential Job Functions:

Provides direct psychiatric patient care to unsheltered people experiencing homelessness including the streets, encampments and mobile clinic.
Clearly documents plan in medical record
Clearly communicates patient care priorities and follow up activities to other team members.
Conduct street rounds with members of the street medicine team as necessary including evaluation of new patients with behavioral health issues and monitoring of progress of established patients in panel
Provide consultation on psychopharmacology to street medicine medical providers
Review clinical records as necessary
Participates in performance improvement activities and reporting of quality improvement measures
Reviews results of laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies provided by other team members and formulates follow-up plan
Reviews Registry Panel/Profile reports on regular basis
Participate in the training of medical students, social worker, residents, and other rotating students as necessary of the street medicine team.
Ensures timely approval of requests for medication refills
Collaborate with the street medicine provider, clinical social workers and substance abuse counselors to discuss treatment plan
Participates in multidisciplinary case conferences as needed
Communicates team issues or needs to leadership as appropriate
Desirable Qualifications:

Homeless health care experience
X Waiver license
Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with dysfunctional SUD, including knowledge of MAT and Addiction Psychiatry
Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with severe persistent mental illness
Experience/expertise in trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles
Demonstrated teaching and communication skills with clinical and non-clinical staff
Experience providing clinical and administrative supervision to behavioral health staff
Familiarity with DMH, DPH and community mental health and substance use programs and resources
Candidates must currently hold a permanent County of Los Angeles payroll title of Phys Specialist Psychiatrist Non-Megaflex to be considered for a transfer or are reachable on a DHS certification list to be considered for a promotion or as a new hire. The most qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, the last two performance evaluations, and a prime variance time report for the last two years.

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