Job Description

Renders psychiatric health care within the limitations of professional licensing to patients of the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers. May assess needs and prescribe treatment. Helps provide diagnostic clarity and feedback about medication management for patients with psychiatric conditions being seen by primary care providers at LACHC. Actively supports the mission of LACHC: to follow Christ by loving and serving our neighbors through comprehensive, quality healthcare.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRIVILEGES include:

• Will perform direct patient care in the form of psychiatric evaluation and treatment of patients in the outpatient setting at Los Angeles Christian Health Centers sites. Will Analyze, evaluate patient data, and/or test to establish a diagnosis and prescribe medication to treat or manage a patient’s symptoms (mental, emotional or behavioral disorders). 
• May consult on patients referred by primary care providers, helping to diagnose and manage medications for patients in need of psychiatric medication, collaborating as needed with primary care providers for ongoing medication management. Consultations may consist of chart review and communication with the PCP, or direct patient care.
• If direct patient care is provided, will provide individualized, integrated, comprehensive, assessment-driven treatment plans that fit the patient’s needs and their readiness for change.
• Perform patient safety assessments and psychiatric triage, when needed, in accordance with customary standards and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate and/ or consult with primary care physicians and providers, psychologists, social workers, case managers, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress, including but not limited to collaborating in patient discharge plans.
• Keep accurate, concise, and thorough documentation of all medical history, exam findings, assessment, treatment/interventions, and education; complete documentation and lock progress notes in a timely manner according to LACHC requirements.
• Actively participate in spiritual care for patients and staff, as appropriate and if desired by the client, which may include prayer and referral to community resources.
• Provide compassionate care for patients who, depending on the clinic site, are predominately homeless, and often lack resources to care well for themselves.
• Network with other health care agencies and county facilities as needed or requested.
• Maintain active enrollment in Medicare, Medicaid, Managed Care, and other payor programs as needed for clinical operations, completing credentialing paperwork in a timely manner to remain actively enrolled in these programs.
• Other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to accomplish each essential duty satisfactorily. The following requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or abilities required. 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
• Bilingual Spanish required.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in California. Board certified Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
• A copy of California License and DEA license are required. BLS certification for providers is also required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Assessment and treatment of multi-diagnosed individuals (i.e. HIV, psychiatric illness, substance abuse, and medical illness).
• Integrating behavioral health care into primary medical care.
• Knowledge about, comfort with, and work experience with evidence-based treatments (i.e. motivational interviewing, harm reduction, contingency management, cognitive behavior therapy, stage of change model, addiction medication, interventions, etc.) 
• Knowledge about and work experience with individuals burdened with various forms of addiction, (i.e., alcohol and drugs- illict and licit, food, sex, gambling, etc.) 
• Knowledge, comfort with, and work experience collaborating with non-medical Behavioral Health staff.
• Experience with the use of addiction medications preferred.
• Experience with Electronic Health Records (EHR).
• Basic computer skills.

Los Angeles Christian Health Centers opened in 1995 with a handful of staff but a big vision to render hope and healing through healthcare to the thousands of homeless and low-income residents living in Los Angeles County. Today, 120 staff members serve the County’s most vulnerable populations from our two full-time health centers in Skid Row and Boyle Heights. We also provide comprehensive medical care at our 10 part-time satellite clinics hosted by our community partners throughout Downtown Los Angeles and Watts.

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