Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist

The consultation-liaison psychiatrist provides expert psychiatric evaluation and management for hospitalized patients with coexisting psychiatric, medical, neurologic, or substance-use–related conditions. The role focuses on optimizing care for complex inpatients, supporting delirium management, contributing to safe transitions of care, and serving as a key resource to interdisciplinary teams. The psychiatrist also participates in compensated Emergency Department call coverage and provides rotational support for the inpatient behavioral health unit.

Responsibilities

1. Inpatient Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

• Perform psychiatric assessments and evaluations for adult inpatients referred from medical, surgical, ICU, and specialty services.
• Provide diagnostic clarification and treatment plans for patients with:
• Mood disorders, psychosis, anxiety, PTSD
• Delirium, encephalopathy, cognitive disturbances
• Behavioral complications of medical illness
• Substance use and withdrawal syndromes
• Develop comprehensive management plans including medication recommendations, safety planning, behavioral strategies, and follow-up needs.
• Collaborate closely with hospitalists, intensivists, surgeons, neurologists, nursing, case management, and ancillary teams.
• Document evaluations, recommendations, and progress notes in the EMR in accordance with hospital policy.

2. Delirium Prevention & Management

• Provide expertise in the assessment, differential diagnosis, and management of delirium in medically ill or postoperative patients.
• Guide nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to reduce complications, restraint use, and unnecessary testing.
• Partner with nursing leadership and hospital medicine on system-level delirium protocols and education.

3. Substance Use Disorder Management

• Evaluate and manage patients experiencing withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances.
• Assist in developing management plans that include MAT (medication-assisted treatment) when appropriate.
• Coordinate with Addiction Medicine, Social Work, and Case Management for safe discharge and continuity of care.
• Provide consultation for competency evaluations and behavioral issues involving comorbid substance use.

4. Emergency Department Psychiatry Call (Compensated)

• Participate in a rotating schedule of compensated ED call coverage.
• Provide rapid psychiatric evaluation for ED patients, including:
• Safety assessments and disposition planning
• Management of agitation, psychosis, or suicidal ideation
• Admission vs discharge recommendations
• Coordinate directly with ED providers and the inpatient psychiatric unit.

5. Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit Coverage (Rotational)

• Provide periodic coverage for the inpatient psychiatric unit, including rounding, admission evaluations, and treatment planning.
• Collaborate with the Behavioral Health multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, high-quality inpatient psychiatric care.
• Support transitions between the medical floors, ED, and inpatient behavioral health service to streamline flow.

6. Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Education

• Serve as a psychiatric resource to hospital staff through curbside consults, interdisciplinary huddles, and committee participation.
• Provide education for medical staff, residents, nursing, and allied health professionals on topics such as delirium prevention, psychopharmacology, and substance-use management.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to behavioral health care, safety, throughput, and LOS reduction.

7. Compliance, Documentation, & Quality

• Adhere to all hospital, state, and federal regulations related to clinical care, documentation, billing, and coding.
• Maintain accurate and timely EMR documentation compliant with regulatory and payer guidelines.
• Participate in peer review, performance improvement, and required CME activities.

Qualifications

This role is essential in reducing length of stay, improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing behavioral health management, and enhancing outcomes for medically and psychiatrically complex patients across the hospital. Candidate must be board eligible or certified in psychiatry and have the ability to obtain an unrestricted Ohio State Medical License and DEA. Must have experience managing delirium, complex psychiatric comorbidities, and substance use disorders in medical settings and have strong interpersonal communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines. Fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry preferred but not required.