We Think the World of Kids

Medical Director

Location:
Albion, Michigan

Position Purpose:
The Medical Director for Starr Commonwealth is responsible for promoting safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered behavioral health care services throughout the organization’s array of residential and community-based programs. Candidates must be forward thinking, with a high level of initiative to effectively analyze national benchmarks and care trends to improve current and future quality of care and patient satisfaction within Starr Commonwealth and all of its programs.

Essential Functions  
Provide for the psychiatric treatment of child and adolescent clients, including:  

• Provide psychiatric evaluations, including diagnoses for child and adolescent clients
  
• Prescribe medications appropriate to evaluation and diagnostic findings
• Provide psychopharmacological medication management consistent with evidence-based best practices and monitors these agents for any adverse reaction in the client/resident  
• Conduct diagnostic assessments and complete summaries, including medical, psychological, social behavioral and developmental aspects of the clients as needed 
• Work closely with health services staff to coordinate psychiatric treatment regarding medication dispensing procedures
  
• Provide direction to clinicians and treatment teams to ensure implementation of psychiatric treatment
  
• Make recommendations regarding the necessity for additional psychological, neuropsychological, or neurological testing and make referrals when required
• Maintain a working knowledge of “state of the science” of psychiatric care for children and adolescents
  
• Provide on-call services 24 hours per day for medical consultation and/or emergency medical care to Starr clients
  
• Facilitate placement of clients into psychiatric centers when needed
  

Serve as Medical Director of the organization through the following activities:

• Provide training to clinicians and treatment teams regarding brain chemistry, psychotropic medications and other topics
  
• Provide oversight and guidance of the psychiatric care of children and adolescent clients on an organizational basis for both residential and community-based settings
  
• Deliver presentations, speeches, etc. to professional groups on behavioral health topics on behalf of the organization
  
• Provide guidance for the health services team in the development, revision and implementation of policies related to psychiatric care
  
• Supervise and coordinate care with Starr’s contracted psychiatrist(s), including but not limited to, periodic peer review and consultation meetings
  

Knowledge:
Thorough knowledge of human development, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment modalities. Knowledge of and adherence to the American Psychiatric Association ethical standards. Understanding of varying management techniques, work with budgets, planning and development of health care systems. A social knowledge of Council on Accreditation and the continuing quality improvement concepts and process.  

Must possess knowledge of milieu management, group dynamics, individual and family treatment and biological aspects of psychiatric illness.  

Special Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership ability and skills
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of psychiatric treatment problems of clients and their families
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team

Principal Organizational Relationships:       

• The Medical Director reports to the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer
• Provides supervision of contracted psychiatrists
• Provides supervision of contracted physicians
• Provides supervision of health services supervisors

Licensing, certifications, and education required:  

• Graduate of accredited medical school with MD or DO degree
• Maintain medical (MD, DO) license in good standing
• Board certification or eligibility as a child and adolescent psychiatrist
• Valid Michigan license
  
• Experience as a psychiatrist in a residential setting preferred
  

Continuing Education:
Must maintain CME credits sufficient for licensure in the state of Michigan

Administrative and Management Skills:  

• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Ability to work effectively in strong teamwork environment
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to analyze and problem solve
• Superior organization skills with ability to track and manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Model consistently the organization’s core values and beliefs
• Ability to spend percentage of work days on the various sites throughout Michigan and Columbus, Ohio

Performance Appraisal Standards:  
The extent to which the incumbent performs in all the essential functions

Response Information:
Interested parties should email a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Aida Porras at aporras@openminds.com or call (717) 398-8033.