The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) is a community-based not-for-profit committed to recovery-focused mental health services through advocacy, community education and direct services. We are recognized as the leader in Westchester in providing person-centered services that involve collaborating with each individual to achieve his or her goals.

MHA facilitates recovery by providing services that reflect our deeply held values that include the recognition of individual rights of self-determination, choice, shared decision-making and collaborative work. Our highly trained staff utilize evidence-based practices throughout our comprehensive array of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented services.

Through our robust services, as well as our advocacy programs and community events, MHA is able to meet the needs of thousands of men, women, children and families each year, helping them live independent lives in the community.

Join Our Team! We have an exciting new opportunity for a “Part-Time Medical Director” overseeing our clinic programs in Westchester and Rockland Counties.

SUMMARY of DUTIES

The Medical Director will be a member of the leadership team, in addition to being responsible for the overall medical direction of the agency’ s integrated behavioral health services. Additionally, the medical director will provide clinical and administrative supervision to medical staff, develop protocols and policies, coordinate, develop, and maintain community relationships. The Medical Director provides medical oversight to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Substance Use Recovery program (Article 32), Mobile clinics, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and OnTrack programs. Experience in Substance Use Disorders (SUD) services is preferred. The Medical Director will support recovery by providing and promoting services that reflect our deeply held values that include the recognition of individual rights of self-determination, choice, shared decision-making and collaboration. The Medical Director will have sufficient authority and administrative time (direct or indirect) to ensure the medical component of care and the integration of behavioral health and primary care criteria are met. When possible he/she/they will utilize and promote evidence-based practices; always embracing a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and person-centered approach.

SPECIFIC DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Medical Director will ensure the medical component of care and the integration of behavioral health (including addictions) and primary care are facilitated.
2. Provides clinical and administrative supervision and direction to all Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Director.
3. Medical Director will oversee the analysis and management of healthcare for claimants, oversight of prescriber’s treatments, diagnoses, and the management of prescription practices.
4. Medical Director will have sufficient frequency and duration of interaction with members from the Executive Team and other management team to effectively function as a management team member.
5. Be an active participant in the development and review of the CCBHC’s programs, positions, and budgets that impact clinical services. Participate in community-wide behavioral health gap analysis and program development.
6. Collaborate with the members of the Executive Team in making liaisons with private and public payors.
7. Participate in improving and expanding clinic services, including the integration of Substance Use Recovery services, in conjunction with the Leadership Team.
8. Conducts initial and ongoing training for all medical staff in accordance with current standards of behavioral health practice and professional licensures. Systems interface- coordination within and across.
9. Aid in establishing process and outcome measures. Ensure medical staff meet productivity based on key performance indicators (KPIs).
10. Active participant in continuous quality improvement and data analytics, able to translate clinical insights to actionable improvements.
11. Collaborate with multidisciplinary team in optimizing clinical care and medical workflows in the clinics. Operational knowledge.
12. If needed, provide on-site crisis assessment to clients during business hours. Be available for after hour clinical crisis coverage.
13. Ensure MHA complies with standards and regulations for medical practice.
14. Ensure MHA meets grant obligations relevant to medical practice.
15. Ensure treatment plans are timely signed by prescribers.
16. Ensure prescribers billing is timely and accurate.
17. Actively participate in risk and sentinel event reviews and recommends system-wide improvements. Contribute to the decisions related to Incident and special case reviews.
18. Follow, develop and maintain program policies and procedures, and agency professional standards.
19. Collaborate with our team of psychiatrics and Director of Nursing in assessment of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment.
20. As needed, provide support, education, and counseling to family members of clients to help them become knowledgeable about mental illness, collaborate in the treatment process, and assist in their family member’s treatment and recovery.
21. As needed, be actively involved in hospitalization of clients including initiation and facilitation of admission to the hospital, communication/consultation with the attending psychiatrist, and collaboration with the inpatient staff in the planning and implementation of treatment and discharge to the community.
22. When required, submit written reports and oral testimony and presentation of opinion in commitment and other legal proceedings and in a wide range of treatment, rehabilitative, and support services matters (e.g., AOT, Social Security applications, prior authorization of medication, etc.).
23. Participate in team meetings and treatment planning review meetings (if needed). Join committee meetings as needed such as Incident Review, Diversity Committee: Cultural Competence and Humility committee (CCHC), etc.
24. Other related duties.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS

1. Knowledgeable about federal, state and local laws and regulations. Including regulatory compliance, accreditation, and safety standards in form and translation.
2. Proficient in computer systems and familiarity with and ability to use an Electronic Health Record system.
3. Collaborate in the process in how personal health information (PHI) is managed, that is consistent with state and federal guidelines while minimizing barriers to optimal care.
4. Experience understanding family systems based on diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
5. Serve as a role model in the interactions with others for delivery of care that is recovery oriented, client centered, culturally competent, and inclusive and welcoming of diversity.
6. Experience understanding various evidence-based models and theories pertaining to substance use and co-occurring disorders, psycho-education, motivational interviewing and recovery.
7. Have outstanding work ethic and integrity, including high ethical and scientific standards.
8. Make the best decision possible based on a mixture of data analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment. Promote research practices.
9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and gain their trust and respect. Lead with a vision, humility, integrity, empathy and optimism.
10. Build a climate in which people want to do their best and can empower team or project members.
11. Ability to foster a collaborative environment, alignment, and psychological safety within the stakeholder team and trust with the community at-large.
12. Ability to handle conflicts and provide constructive resolution.
13. Highly organized and self-motivated.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Medical Director shall be a Psychiatrist licensed and currently registered as such by the New York State Education Department. Shall have at least one year of education, training, and/or experience in substance use recovery services.
2. Pursuant to the requirements of the statute (PAMA § 223 (a)(2)(A)), CCBHC providers must have and maintain all necessary state-required licenses, certifications, or other credentialing.
3. Medical Director must be well-rounded within integration of behavioral health and primary care by possessing appropriate education and licensure with prescriptive authority in psychopharmacology, who can prescribe and manage medications independently pursuant to state law.
4. Medical Director must have board certification in addiction medicine from a certifying entity appropriate to their primary or specialty board certification.
5. Medical Director must meet the following characteristics:
    a) Waiver to prescribe buprenorphine (or obtain waiver to do so within 4-months of hire) and or one or more of the following:
    b) Certification by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM),
    c) Boarded by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and/or
    d) Board certification in Psychiatry with added qualification of certification in Addiction Psychiatry.
6. Holds a Federal DATA 2000 Waiver to prescribe buprenorphine.
7. Must maintain an active license in good standing to practice in New York State.
8. Must maintain an active unrestricted federal and state DEA registration.
9. Must comply with the standards and requirements of all applicable federal, state, local and other laws, rules and regulations governing medical services.
10. Must comply with all professional standards and all applicable agency policies and procedures, including the agency’s compliance program and code of conduct.
11. Current Controlled Substance Registration issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
12. Demonstrates knowledge and support of agency’s safety and ethical policies, practices and reports unsafe environments/practices to supervisor in a timely manner.
13. Demonstrates understanding of 42CFR, HIPAA Privacy Standards and related agency policies.
14. Must be reliable and able to work independently and understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
15. Must be cleared NYS Justice Center through fingerprinting for a Criminal History Records search.
16. Must be cleared by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Staff Exclusion List (SEL) and the New York State Medicaid Exclusion List.
17. Must be cleared by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for instances of child abuse and/or neglect.
18. Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.

MHA of Westchester is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by the applicable law. To apply, please send your cover letter and résumé by e-mail to employment@mhawestchester.org with "Part-Time Medical Director" as the subject line of the e-mail. Thank you.