09/01/1986 37500

STAFF PSYCHIATRIST

DEFINITION: This is professional medical work in the field of psychiatry or child psychiatry.

An employee in this class is responsible for the care and treatment of mentally ill patients in wards, buildings, cottages or other units of a state hospital, or community programs. Duties include full professional responsibility for the diagnosis, determination of treatment methods and leadership in the implementation of treatment plans. Work is performed under general direction of a higher level psychiatrist for clinical supervision or other administrative supervisor for administrative issues and is reviewed for conformance to current, accepted psychiatric and medical principles and techniques through staff conferences, case report observation during performance, and evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Examines patients to determine the presence of mental illness, obtains medical histories, diagnoses illness and prescribes and carries out the course of treatment.

Makes ward rounds and checks on the care and progress of treatment of patients.

Administers or directs the administration of treatments using somatic, group, or milieu therapy and other psychotherapeutic methods and medications.

Confers with and advises members of the medical staff and allied hospital personnel, agencies, relatives and other interested persons on the care, treatment, and prognosis of patients.

Serves as treatment team director responsible for the direction and coordination of team members from various hospital disciplines in the implementation of patients' comprehensive individual treatment plans.

Formulates the psychiatric component of the treatment plan, including goals and objectives for individual patients as appropriate.

Prepares comprehensive diagnostic, progress evaluation, and prognostic status reports on individual patients.

Directs and instructs psychiatric residents, medical students, nurses, other professional and non-professional staff in the care and treatment of mentally ill patients.

Attends and participates in staff conferences for the discussion of the diagnosis, treatment, or discharge of patients.

Testifies as an expert psychiatric witness in legal proceedings regarding patients.

Reviews reports of patients' laboratory tests to determine levels and effectiveness of medications.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and techniques used in the field of psychiatry and/or child psychiatry, and the relationships between diagnostic findings and therapeutic methodologies.

Knowledge of mental illnesses, their symptoms, treatment and social implications.

Knowledge of the application of psychiatry to individual and group behavior.

Knowledge of the theories and principles used in the field of neurology, general medicine and surgery.

Knowledge of laboratory methods, equipment and techniques as they relate to the field of psychiatry and/or child psychiatry.

Ability to examine patients, interpret results of findings, make decisions and to prescribe or carry out course of treatment.

Ability to communicate with and gain the confidence and cooperation of patients and to instill and maintain a cooperative attitude throughout the care and treatment process.

Ability to direct and instruct resident physicians, nurses and other hospital discipline staff in current, accepted treatment principles and techniques used in the field of psychiatry.

Ability to follow general instructions and departmental or hospital policies in carrying out the care and treatment function.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with patients, departmental and hospital personnel, and the general public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Completion of a residency or training program in psychiatry which meets the certification requirements of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as issued by the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure, or the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Certain positions in children's and adolescent facilities require completion of a residency program in child psychiatry which meets the certification requirements of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.