Summary

The Physician Assistant - Inpatient Mental Health Program Manager is a leadership position responsible for overseeing the clinical and administrative operations of the inpatient mental health unit at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. Key responsibilities include coordinating with the interdisciplinary treatment team (ITT) to develop and implement standard operating procedures and comprehensive inpatient mental health treatment plans for Veterans.

Duties

• Duties for this position include - but are not limited to: Oversees the Acute Mental Health Inpatient unit - a major program at GVSM VAMC - delivering specialized - complex - and highly professional care that significantly impacts Veterans' healthcare
• Provides direct clinical services to veterans with mental health care needs
• Manages key clinical - training - and administrative programs with full responsibility for day-to-day activities
• Performs strategic planning and resource allocation to ensure high-quality services for Veterans
• Ensures well-coordinated - high-quality post-discharge care for high-risk Veterans
• Supervises direct reports - including psychiatrists - physician assistant - nurse practitioners - nurses - psychologists - neuropsychologists - clinical social workers - marriage and family therapists - licensed professional mental health counselors - addiction therapists - vocational rehabilitation specialists - and/or peer support specialists
• Conducts performance evaluations - approve time and leave - monitor fund control points - and oversee daily operations - including budgetary oversight
• Implement cost-saving measures without impairing operational effectiveness
• Develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements
• Request backfills or new positions as needed
• Ensures compliance with local and system-wide program policy manuals and directives
• Develops and implement programs - policies - and procedures to meet program goals - VHA policy - and accreditation requirements
• Monitors outcomes using data-driven processes and implement improvement strategies based on data analysis
• Ensures professional management of administrative accreditation responsibilities - including for the Joint Commission
• Monitors and report to the Office of the ACOS regarding the status of Mental Health Performance Measures - overseeing corrective actions as needed
• Prepares special reports - Congressional responses - briefing papers - issue briefs - and decision papers for Medical Center leadership
• Serves as a high-level liaison with local - state - and national officials - community groups - and affiliate institutions as needed
• Represent the Mental Health Service at meetings and educational conferences
• Coordinates - leads - and assigns responsibilities to program staff in clinical team meetings - huddles - and monthly meetings
• Uses advanced clinical judgment to independently provide evidence-based treatment to Veterans with acute or chronic mental illness including use of psychotropic medications - psychotherapy - and other modalities
• Provides patient and family education on medical/MH conditions - preventive measures - and prescribed treatments
• Demonstrates leadership and engages in collaboration with other MH and specialty care professionals while involving Veterans and their families (as appropriate) - in treatment plan development
• Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes
• Counsels and treats patients with substance use disorders - including prescription of medication assisted therapies for opioid and alcohol use (including buprenorphine) and detoxication management
• Orders and interprets labs - tests - and diagnostic studies
• Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services
• Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - and Excellence
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Monday - Friday
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.