Tele-Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory - External

Summary

The Non-supervisory Tele-Psychiatric Provider role delivers psychiatric care to ICE detainees via real-time audio/video telemedicine, serving multiple facilities. IHSC's multidisciplinary team provides on-site and off-site medical care for 34,000 daily detainees at 24 ICE and 240 IGSA sites, supporting health needs during enforcement operations nationwide.

This position is only open to current USPHS officers.

USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.

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Duties

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Works within and performs functions as outlined in the IHSC Psychiatric Advanced Practice
   Provider Collaborative Practice and Prescriptive Authority Agreement and the IHSC
   formulary.
2. Delivers comprehensive psychiatric care to detainees through utilization of
   telecommunications and information technology to provide access to psychiatric treatment
   across distance via scheduled appointments, emergent, or urgent care visits.
3. Consults with the Clinical Director/psychiatrist for complex psychiatric patients and as
   required by IHSC policy.
4. Provides integrated, consultative care including, but not limited to admission, discharge, and daily rounds for detainees that require higher levels of psychiatric care or close monitoring.
5. Collaborates with members of the clinical services team to coordinate holistic,
   integrated patient care delivery.
6. Performs thorough psychiatric evaluations and initiates individualized treatment plans for
   detainees as required by IHSC policy, or as required based on detainee psychiatric
   complaint.
7. Follows IHSC policies in the management of significant mental illness including
   prevention of violence, homicide, self-harm, and suicide.
8. Demonstrates discipline appropriate application of clinical knowledge within documented
   treatment plans, to include psychopharmacological and non-pharmacological, therapeutic
   treatment modalities.
9. Coordinates psychiatric care needs of detainees including referrals to off-site consultants.
10. Solicits and reviews pertinent psychiatric records as indicated.
11. Interprets diagnostic and laboratory results when required for psychiatric evaluations.
12. Provides relevant patient education to detainees verbally and/or with handouts.
13. Ensures patient confidentiality and privacy of medical records.
14. Mentors psychiatric APP onboarding and training.
15. Actively participates in interdisciplinary training of IHSC staff.
16. Participates in the psychiatric APP credentialing and peer review process.
17. Assists in program development, policy review and revisions, and data collection.
18. Attends on-site, regional, and national meetings as required.
19. Completes all initial, annual, and ad hoc training as required.
20. Assists with preparation for accreditation and ongoing compliance with standards.
21. Maintains a level of productivity that is on par with the average psychiatric
    provider's productivity.
22. May serve in acting capacity as part of the IHSC psychiatry services leadership team.
23. May serve as medical escort of detainees as needed, for domestic/overseas travel.
24. Utilizes and documents interpretation and/or translation and/or assisted communication
    services as needed to ensure ability to effectively communicate with detainees or others
    who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or have a communication disability or
    impediment.
25. Provides on-call coverage as needed after regular work hours which may require
    returning calls to the covering facility outside of normal work hours for urgent mental
    health needs.
26. Documents detainee encounters in the electronic health record using required format,
    in compliance with IHSC policy and guidance.
27. Exhibits flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and
    work requirements.
28. Travel may be required up to as much as 20% annually.
29. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
• ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
• Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer.
  USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.
  Civilians are not eligible for this position.
• PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 hours].
2. Average manual dexterity for computer operations.
3. Phone and computer use for extended periods of time.
4. Must perform job duties in a stressful and often austere environment without physical
   limitations.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers are detailed to Department of Homeland Security as described in a Memorandum of Agreement.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. A minimum of 3-5 years of full-time experience as a Psychiatric APP in direct patient
   care required.
2. Knowledge of training methods and sufficient interpersonal skills to develop a rapport with
   detainees and co-workers when instructional and educational information is presented.
3. Nurse Practitioner- Requires unrestricted PMHNP state license and national board
   certification through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) - Current licensure as a PMHNP by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States - PMHNP degree from a graduate school of professional nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), typically a Master or Doctorial level education - PMHNP board certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
4. Physician Assistant (PA)- Requires unrestricted PA state license and
   national board certification through the National Commission on
   Certification of Physician Assistants. Current licensure as a PA by a State,
   the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory
   of the United States.
   - Graduate from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review
   Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
   - Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry from the NCCPA - required.
5. Maintains a current license and meets continuing education requirements for the State(s)
   licensed in (It is the responsibility of the incumbent to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain currency. This position will be required to perform clinical activities within the scope of licensure).
6. Maintains unrestricted license with state of licensure
7. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications- not required at the time of
   hire, but must be obtained within 90 days of the start date
8. Maintains basic readiness status
9. Maintains current CPR/BLS certification
10. Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education opportunities.
11. Comprehensive knowledge of managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations,
    and patients with significant deficits in coping skills, thereby requiring continuing
    professional clinical support.
12. Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements

Additional information

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

1. The incumbent functions under the clinical supervision of the designated collaborating psychiatrist.

2. The incumbent is administratively supervised by the Chief Psychiatrist.

3. Clinical assignments are usually of a long-term, recurring, or broadly defined nature. The officer plans and organizes their own work, determines prioritization of assignments, and seeks assistance as needed. Work is reviewed for attainment of objectives, completeness of documentation, and productivity through chart reviews conducted by collaborating psychiatrist, supervisor, and/or peers. The officer uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as policies, standards, regulations, precedents, and work direction for application to specific cases.

4. The officer analyzes results and recommends changes in clinical guidelines and program policies. Modifications to accepted procedures must be approved and clearly document

5. The officer keeps the supervisor informed of the status of projects and consults with him/her on any significant problems encountered.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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