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INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIST (COBB)

Monday through Friday or 7 on/ 7 off

A member of the Mayo Clinic Network, WellStar Health System is an 11-hospital system, recognized as one of the most integrated health systems in the United States, and one of the largest health systems in Georgia. WellStar is committed to investing in the communities we serve. To this end, we continue to develop innovative care models, focused on improving quality and access to healthcare, including individuals experiencing symptoms of a psychiatric and/or substance use disorder. Continuing this work, the WellStar Medical Group and Behavioral Health Service Line is excited to announce an opportunity for a compassionate and highly-skilled board-certified psychiatrist (MD/DO).  

We are currently recruiting for a psychiatrist to join our team to bolster support for patients who are receiving care on our 34-bed inpatient behavioral health unit at WellStar Cobb Hospital in Austell, GA. WellStar Cobb offers an array of on-site behavioral health programs, including an inpatient adult psychiatric unit, a consultation-liaison psychiatry service for medically-admitted patients with psychiatric disorders, a proactive emergency psychiatry service to evaluate and treat patients in the Emergency Department, and an outpatient behavioral health clinic.  

We are currently recruiting a psychiatrist to join our Behavioral Health team to bolster support for our patients with primary psychiatric and substance use disorders. The MD/DO filling this new role will work either a traditional Monday-Friday schedule or a 7 days on/7 days off schedule to provide care to patients in the inpatient behavioral health unit who are experiencing psychiatric crises stemming from mood and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, etc. In addition to the prerequisite skills and competencies noted below, we are seeking physicians with a clear commitment to quality/safety and an orientation to team. Furthermore, given our partnership with the Medical College of Georgia, interest in graduate medical education (GME) resident training and providing support for medical students rotating through the inpatient unit is important.

Overview of Duties/Responsibilities

This is a full-time position, with time allocated to the provision of inpatient psychiatric services. Whereas the position has been conceptualized as a Monday through Friday role, there is flexibility to consider a 7-day on/7-day off week in order to meet patient needs while also optimizing work-life balance of the practicing physician.

Services are provided at Wellstar’s general adult inpatient behavioral health unit, located on the Wellstar Cobb Hospital campus. The psychiatrist functions as a member of the WellStar Medical Group’s Behavioral Health team and as a member of a broader multi-disciplinary team comprised of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, case managers, mental health associates, medical students, etc.  Day-to-day, the psychiatrist will work closely with members of inpatient behavioral health team and will be fully integrated with the Cobb Behavioral Health Unit. The psychiatrist will obtain and maintain hospital privileges at WellStar Cobb Hospital and will have responsibilities for overseeing the work of an advanced practitioner.

The ideal candidate is one who is team-oriented, possessing a commitment to collaboration, active listening skills, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, and strong decision-making acumen. (S)He should have an unwavering commitment to quality and patient safety and should be comfortable working with adults across the lifespan with various psychiatric conditions. The willingness to work with patients with substance use disorders and severe mental illness is needed given the demographics and population. (S)He should approach care with a spirit of collegiality, building relationships with other members of the Behavioral Health Service Line team.

Primary clinical responsibilities include the following:

• Conduct thorough record reviews
• Conduct mental status evaluations and comprehensive psychiatric assessments of patients presenting with acute psychiatric and substance-related conditions
• Render accurate diagnoses
• Conduct collateral interviews with family members and others to ensure accurate understanding of patient history, precipitating events, etc.
• Consult as needed with other Wellstar psychiatrists
• Review, assign, and when optimal convert legal holds to voluntary admission status
• File petitions for extended inpatient behavioral health care, when needed
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized treatment plans and ensure optimal care coordination
• Prescribe and manage medications, adjusting treatment plans as necessary to ensure optimal patient outcomes
• Provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and psychoeducation to patients and their families
• Perform risk assessments
• Develop evidence-based safety plans and relapse prevention plans for patients at high risk of suicidal self-directed violence or substance-related conditions
• Coordinate care and treatment with social workers, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless continuity of care
• Collaborate with outpatient mental health providers and primary care physicians to develop and implement individualized care plans
• Monitor patients' progress, identify barriers to recovery, and implement appropriate interventions to promote successful transition to community-based care
• Communicate effectively with external providers, community resources, and social service agencies to facilitate access to necessary support services
• Oversee the work of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, ensuring quality and safety at all times

Other responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Emergency Medicine, Graduate Medical Education, Hospital Medicine)
• Provide educational/didactic opportunities for medical students, medical residents, and other trainees
• Participate in the evening psychiatric call rotation
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic health records, documenting patient assessments, treatment plans, interventions, and outcomes via Epic
• Adhere to all relevant legal and ethical guidelines, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and professional standards
• Collaborate with quality improvement initiatives, participate in case reviews, and contribute to ongoing program improvement

Required Minimum Education: (1) completion of a medical degree (MD/DO), (2) completion of general ACGME psychiatry residency training program, (3) license to practice psychiatry in the State of Georgia; and (4) ABPN board-certification (or board-eligibility)

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life. Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.

To apply, please utilize our careers site at careers.wellstar.org or reach out directly to Provider Recruiter, Leslie Roberts, [email protected].