Psychiatric Medical Director

Location: All offices

Supervisor: Chief Operating Officer

Employee Classification: Exempt (salaried), Full-time

Hours: Exempt (salaried), Full-time

Compensation: $250,000/annually ($10,000 signing bonus for direct hires!)

About the Company

Portland Mental Health & Wellness (PMHW) is a highly regarded private group practice serving the Portland, Oregon region with strong DEAI values and principles. Our team of skilled professionals, including psychiatrists, mental health nurse practitioners, as well as clinical psychologists and therapists, are dedicated to providing top-quality care to all patients. We believe in treating the whole person by integrating a holistic approach to mental health care.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Psychiatric Medical Director to join our leadership team. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Psychiatric Medical Director will be responsible for overseeing and developing the entire medical department, which includes the outpatient medical management team and the intensive outpatient program (IOP) medical management team.

Primary Function

The Psychiatric Medical Director will provide clinical and administrative leadership to the medical management teams of PMHW, being their go-to-resource, and developing and implementing clinical programs to ensure high-quality patient care. They will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining compliance with mental health care licensure regulations and standards, including proper billing and supportive documentation. They will lead and oversee the hiring and training of qualified psychiatrists and qualified mental health nurse practitioners. They must have a positive and supportive attitude toward PMHW as a whole – clinical and administrative – and be engaged in its overall success, with an eye toward support and best practices, while embodying PMHW’s Mission, Vision and Values, as well as the Organizational Culture Principles (OCPs). They must have the ability to think globally and holistically, solve problems, and have good decision-making and communication skills. The role will be approximately 60% clinical and 40% administrative.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to psychiatrists and qualified mental health nurse practitioners
• Oversee the outpatient medical management team and the intensive outpatient program (IOP) medical management team
• Collaborate with therapy teams to ensure integrated, patient-centered care
• Develop and implement clinical policies and procedures that promote evidence-based practices and support operational efficiency
• Monitor and maintain compliance with mental health care regulations and standards
• Recruit and hire qualified psychiatrists and qualified mental health nurse practitioners
• Provide direct patient care as needed
• Monitor management reports that summarize medical team caseloads, to do lists, and documentation status
• Participate in biweekly medical team meetings, biweekly clinical management meetings, and weekly clinical consultation groups
• Conduct and document quarterly reviews for all medical staff
• Partner with the PMHW Director to facilitate medical discussions and training during monthly all-staff meetings
• Participate in interviews for medical team candidates, including LMPs and MAs
• In partnership with the IOP Director, create unified medical and clinical policies and procedures for all of PMHW, by updating existing policies and procedures and developing new ones
• Foster radical candor by engaging in open, honest and directly challenging  feedback conversations with all PMHW staff, encouraging 1:1 conversations but stepping in as a liaison to coach staff through conversation, as necessary
• Convey information regarding policies and practices to medical staff
• Ensure successful onboarding and training of all new medical staff
• Conduct monthly chart audits to ensure compliance and consistency in medical charting, upholding the highest ethical standards, which is in alignment with PMHW policies and procedures that ensure quality and appropriateness of medical care
• Be the point of contact for all external chart audits
• Oversee and ensure successful PMHW medical team departures, following patient-centered and ethical standards, including appropriate termination letters and smooth patient transfers
• Partner with Human Resources to facilitate performance improvement conversations and documentation, as well as conducting exit interviews, as appropriate
• Perform other duties as assigned

Performance Requirements

Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of psychiatry and related medical fields, including current best practices and emerging research
• Knowledge of mental health care regulations and standards
• Understanding of financial and operational aspects of a private psychiatry practice
• Strong familiarity with DEAI principles and values

Skills:

• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and mentor team members
• Welcome and utilize feedback with interest and curiosity from all PMHW employees – administrative and operations teams, executive leadership, peers and colleagues, managers and directors, as well as in supervision and consultation settings
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to identify and address complex clinical issues
• Excellent clinical and diagnostic skills, with the ability to manage complex psychiatric cases
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with patients, families, and staff members
• Demonstrate an understanding of sound ethical practice in conjunction with the established and defined ethics of one’s training and discipline
• Appropriately and effectively assess and treat behavioral and affective disorders, with an emphasis on relational and process intervention models
• Assess risk for harm to self, or others, at intake as well as throughout the course of treatment
• Maintain current and comprehensive clinical documentation, compliant with Oregon Health Authority requirements
• Coordination of care with multiple providers, both within the practice and at other facilities
• Focus clinical practice on individuals, families, or populations across the life span at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems. This includes the assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders
• Provide consultation to healthcare providers and others to enhance quality and cost-effective services for patients and to effect change in organizational systems
• Familiarity with standard office equipment, including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, etc.
• Proficiency in a web-based, Google Workspace, Apple / iOs computer environment.
• Proficiency in the use of electronic health records and other clinical management tools

Abilities:

• Engage in ongoing training opportunities provided by Portland Mental Health & Wellness, and elsewhere, to improve skills in diagnosis, treatment planning, and engagement of psychotherapy and/or psychiatric services that emphasize the Mission, Vision and Values, as well as the Organizational Culture Principles of PMHW
• Ability to work effectively as a team member, and to communicate clearly, compassionately, and respectfully, with medical and mental health professionals, as well as with administrative support staff
• Ability to flexibly respond to changing demands within the work environment
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, time, and responsibilities effectively
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with competing priorities, while still meeting deadlines
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, employees, and the public
• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
• Ability to inspire and motivate team members to achieve shared goals and objectives
• Ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered care that is informed by DEAI principles and values
• Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and community partners
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures that promote high-quality patient care and operational efficiency
• Ability to assess and manage risk for harm to self or others at intake and throughout the course of treatment

Education and Experience:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) from an AMA accredited institution
• Board Certified in Psychiatry
• Hold an active medical license to practice in the State of Oregon with full prescriptive authority
• DEA certificate in good standing
• Prior leadership experience in a mental health setting, preferably in a private practice
• Experience managing and supervising medical staff
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing clinical programs and initiatives
• Minimum of five (5) years experience as a psychiatric prescriber working successfully with a clinical team
• Minimum of two (2) years experience working with adolescents and adults in an outpatient private practice setting and/or intensive outpatient setting, with demonstrated competence in assessment, diagnosis, medication evaluation and current, sound prescriptive practices
• Experience working with patients from diverse backgrounds and with varying mental health needs
• A track record of providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients
• Knowledge of, and experience with, evidence-based treatment modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and medication management
• Extremely confident and comfortable with electronic health record (EHR) and practice management (PM) systems, as well as other clinical management tools

Additional Requirements/Licenses:

• Must have reliable transportation
• Must have a valid driver’s license

Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment, including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, etc. 

Work Environment: When working from a PMHW office, the position is in a well-lit office environment. Varied activities including sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending, and lifting.

Mental and Physical Requirements: Involves sitting approximately 90 percent of the day, walking or standing the remainder. Ability to tolerate mental and emotional distress as an anticipated aspect of the position. May require working under stressful conditions. 

Portland Mental Health & Wellness offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees that includes:

• Paid health leave (40 hrs to start)
• Paid holidays (48 hours)
• Paid vacation (accrued based on productivity)
• Health, dental, vision insurance
• Employer Paid Life/AD&D
• Voluntary Short Term Disability
• Monthly TriMet Transportation Pass covered at 50%
• 401K retirement with 3-4% company match once eligible
• Quarterly profit sharing
• Enrollment with Student Loan Tutor
• Loan-repayment program opportunity through the Oregon Health Authority’s Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative 
• Opportunities for provision of supervision and training
• Annual CE allowance
• Weekly consultation groups
• 20% discount on vitamins & supplements through Wellevate
• Full-time medical providers are eligible for full reimbursement for premiums paid toward their malpractice insurance

This description is intended to provide only the basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions may change as the practice’s needs evolve. Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of every job.

The physical requirements described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. By signing below, you acknowledge that you are able to perform the Essential Functions of this job, with or without accommodation. If an accommodation is needed, you have an opportunity to discuss this with Human Resources.