Job Title: Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Provider- Substance Use Prevention
Department: Health and Human Services Agency Public Health Division
Pay Grade: 82
FLSA Status: Exempt
AGENCY MISSION, YOUR MISSION
Haywood County Health and Human Services’ mission is to enhance the health, safety, and full potential of our community. In the Public Health Services Division, you would serve as an advocate for the public’s health and help shape positive health outcomes for all Haywood County residents. All members of our team must uphold the confidentiality of Haywood County's citizens, safeguarding their privacy and dignity at all times.
JOB SUMMARY
The purpose of the Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Provider (PMH APP) is to diagnose, treat, and manage mental health conditions. This work involves providing psychiatric/mental health care involving patient assessments, prescribing psychiatric medications, and overseeing patients’ physical and mental health. The PMH APP will make medical diagnoses and dispense medical treatment under mutually agreed upon patient care protocols and medical guidelines with the supervising physician. These services include but are not restricted to: promotion/maintenance of health, prevention of illness and disability; diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic illness; guidance and counseling for both individuals and families; prescribing, administering, and dispensing therapeutic measures, tests, procedures, and drugs; planning for situations beyond the APP’s expertise; consulting with and referring to other health care providers as appropriate; and evaluation health outcomes.
Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 1 hour for lunch, however an alternate work schedule (40 hours per week) may be considered upon request . Other hours may be set or required per the County policy. Perform duties in times of emergency, including but not limited to, those that may be related to a Public Health Emergency or mass sheltering, as the agency is a mandated shelter for the county, and performs such duties as assigned, and the hours worked in emergency response could vary from hours worked in the office.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with behavioral health disorders in an outpatient setting including in-person and telehealth.
- Analyze and evaluate patient data and tests or examination findings to diagnose the nature and extent of behavioral health disorders.
- Prescribe, direct, and administer medications to treat behavioral health, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical conditions and behavioral health disorders.
- Advise and inform guardians, relatives, and significant others of patients' conditions and treatment, as needed.
- Perform comprehensive psychiatric assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, and manage medications for patients, including those with substance-use disorders.
- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals (therapists, psychologists, case managers, and primary care team) to discuss individual patient treatment plans and progress.
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Obtain thorough history of substance use abuse.
- Diagnose substance related diagnosis and provide treatment for patients referred by Haywood County Detention Center and/or other referral source.
- Obtain thorough history of substance use and history of behavioral health issues obtained.
- Thorough screening for Opioid Use Disorder is completed.
- Diagnosis is determined and a treatment plan is designed based on patient needs.
- Referral is made for counseling support groups.
- Educate patient on the effects of drug use, both physically, emotionally and socially.
- Provide education in the use of Naloxone to reverse an overdose and prescription of Naloxone is given to patients.
- Family Planning
- Complete histories and physical assessments are performed, including pelvic exams on women of childbearing age.
- The Advanced Practice Provider is responsible for assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and prescription of appropriate birth control method. Methods provided in the Family Planning Clinic consist of oral contraceptives, Depo Provera, barrier methods, IUDs, Implantable devices and natural family planning. Much time will be spent educating the patient regarding pelvic exam and Pap smear, self-breast exam, chosen method of birth control, vaginal infections, and other associated problems.
- The Advanced Practice Provider treats common vaginal infections, venereal warts, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections. Repeat pap smears due to previous abnormal pap are performed. Counseling patients regarding method problem is an important function. Side effects of medications, problems with IUDs/implantable devices, and necessary method changes are made as indicated. Counsels with clients/partners and assists in accessing sterilization programs or other resources needed.
- STD
- Obtains history and examines male and female patients for presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Orders and/or performs appropriate laboratory tests and prescribes or administers treatment.
- Interprets clinical findings and counsel patients for prevention of recurrence.
- Promotes safe sex and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted illnesses.
- Adult Health Clinic
- Perform history and physical assessment on eligible adults.
- Diagnosis of chronic problems may be made but treatment is deferred to patient’s primary care provider, in a timely manner. Education and demonstration for breast self-exam and order mammograms on age-appropriate women or those with abnormal breast exam.
- Continuing Educations, Staff Meetings, Provision of Staff and Community Education
- Attends continuing education programs periodically to update skills and keep abreast of new medical information. Serves as resource person for nursing staff and presents occasional in-service programs. Occasionally asked to speak to school and classes or other groups on disease, family planning, or prenatal services. Provides some preceptor duties for nursing and mid-level students on a rotational basis as time permits for area community college and university nursing students. Maintains professional credentials.
- Employees are required to maintain compliance with all State and Federal laws and program requirements including but not limited to confidentiality laws (HIPAA, Juvenile Code, PII, etc.). Employees are expected to adhere to Agency, Countywide and Departmental policies and procedures regarding information security and confidentiality, and to report any suspected unauthorized disclosure or loss of information immediately. Employees must ensure security of all County data, equipment, and information in both electronic and paper form that is accessed as part of job duties to minimize risk of improper disclosure or data breach.
- Emergency Response, including but not limited to support of the Federally mandated and State statutory responsibilities including, but not limited to Public Health and Mass Care duties.
Performs other assigned duties.
-
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:
- Licensed as a Physician Assistant by the North Carolina Medical Board and holding a Psychiatry Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) and one year of experience or approved to practice as a Nurse Practitioner by the North Carolina Board of Nursing and the North Carolina Medical Board holding the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification and one year of experience as an Advanced Practice Provider.
- CPR Certification/Recertification every two years.
- Must participate in Respiratory Protection Plan and be Fit Tested Annually.
- Must have knowledge of pediatric and community health, health education, and early care and education.
- Must be at least twenty-one years of age to drive a County vehicle.
Valid state driver’s license. Must have no more than three (3) points showing on current DMV records in order to operate County vehicles.
-
Additional Training/Experience:
- NCIR updates as needed.
- ICS training based on statutory requirements and duties of the job.
- Family Panning update annually and as needed.
- STD update annually and as needed.
Infection Control Regulatory Practices /OSHA Infection Training required by state
-
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
Approved by the NC Board of Medical Examiners to perform medical acts. National Certification through AANP or ANA.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of county ordinances, policies, and procedures; Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing;
- Skill in the use of computers and applicable software programs; and
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively with other employees and the general public.
- Thorough knowledge of techniques of interviewing, history taking, principles and practices of adult medicine, working knowledge of pediatric medicine; health appraisal tools, lab tests available and findings, and the ability to plan a regime of care based on these findings is necessary.
- Knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of psychiatric medicine and the techniques involved. • Knowledge of biological, social, and psychological developmental processes at all ages. • Knowledge of developments in the field of medicine with
- Possess the ability to communicate effectively with patients, staff and other service providers in the community and gain their confidence.
Ability to produce an acceptable volume of patient care contacts.
-
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, depth and texture perception, and color perception. Stamina to be on feet during working day. Must possess ability to ambulate without assistance. Position may involve a moderate to heavy amount of lifting and carrying items from location to location. Considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving repetitive motions and the use of standard office equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The Health and Human Services Agency is an adequate, comfortable, building with pleasant office space and examination rooms. The community is not generally considered hazardous. The potential for exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B, other sexually transmitted diseases and/or communicable disease is a reality when coming in contact with body fluids and secretions of clients. Universal blood and body fluid precautions are observed.
Routine instruments to measure vital signs of clients – i.e. stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, thermometer and those needed for more specific examination, i.e. otoscope, ophthalmoscope, speculum and utensils for sampling cervix and vagina are the usual instruments used by the Advanced Practice Provider.
EMPLOYER BENEFITS PACKAGE:
- Employer paid Health & Dental Coverage
- Participation in the NC Retirement System
- 401(k) and 457(b) plans available
- Employer paid Life Insurance
- Competitive Vision Insurance
- Annual Performance Pay Increases
- Vacation, Personal, and Sick Leave
- Free Employee Assistance Network
- Free Employee Wellness Clinic
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Paid Holidays
Longevity Pay
-
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Haywood County has the right to revise this position description at any time and does not represent in any way a contract of employment.
Haywood County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
