Psychiatric Physician Assistant-Adult Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC)

Coastal Horizons is seeking a dedicated Adult Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Physician Assistant to provide high-quality psychiatric and substance use treatment services in our Behavioral Health Urgent Care program. Working under the supervision of the Medical Director and supervising psychiatrist, this role provides rapid assessment, diagnosis, medication management, crisis intervention, and short-term stabilization for individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use crises.

This is an excellent opportunity for a compassionate clinician who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is committed to improving access to behavioral healthcare.

JOB TITLE: Psychiatric Physician Assistant Adult Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC)

LOCATION: Wilmington, NC

• Licensed by the state of North Carolina as a Physician Assistant.
• Minimum two (2) years of direct experience providing services in a psychiatric, substance use treatment, or emergency department setting.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Provides behavioral health and substance use treatment to patients in an urgent care setting under the direction of a supervising psychiatrist and medical director. BHUC Practitioner provides diagnosis, acute treatment, medication management, consultation, and short-term behavioral health and substance use follow up care to agency patients. The BHUC Practitioner provides age and specialty appropriate care at the level of training achieved. This position will work a non-traditional schedule working evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Provide psychiatric and substance use treatment services to patients in a Behavioral Health Urgent Care setting during scheduled hours.
• Conduct psychiatric evaluations and risk assessments for individuals presenting in crisis.
• Provide assessment, diagnosis, develop short-term stabilization plans and determine appropriate disposition (discharge with follow-up, referral to MAT/OBOT/therapy/IOP, transfer to higher level of care) in accordance with all federal and state statutes, regulations and protocols regulating the profession and/or treatment setting.
• Prescribe, recommend, and/or discontinue medications and treatments to treat mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorders in accordance with all state and federal regulations as well as the Collaborative Practice Agreement. Medication provision could include the direct delivery of injectables.
• Counsel patients during appointments on medication benefits and risks.
• Order, interpret, and evaluate labs to identify and assess patient's clinical problems and health care needs. Record findings, and formulate plan and prognosis, based on patient's condition.
• Respond to client emergencies and be accessible to crisis on-call clinicians when appropriate.
• Collaborate with Medical Director, supervising psychiatrist, administrative supervisors, nursing staff, medical assistants, therapist, and other treatment team members to ensure patient needs are met.
• Responsible for timely and accurate completion of medical records documentation, including assessment, treatment plan, progress notes, outcome measures, and billing entries.
• May refer patients to other medical providers for consultation or specialized care for treatment.
• Collaborate with guardians, relatives, and significant others on patient’s conditions and treatment when clinically appropriate.
• Return calls and emails promptly (within 24 hours of receipt or sooner if clinically necessary).
• Responsible for making independent decisions based on protocols developed utilizing national guidelines and standards of care for treatment interventions.
• Actively participate in all agency and department education, training, and in-services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Meets requirements under State of North Carolina as a Physician Assistant
• Experience in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and psycho-pharmacy.
• Skill in establishing rapport with a client and/or family and applying techniques of assessing psycho-social, behavioral, and psychological aspects of the client.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and members of civic, medical, social, and religious organizations.
• Ability to formulate medical and wellness treatment goals and to record concisely required documentation.
• Able to document and navigate EHR independently.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work productively and make independent decisions.
• Ability to foster teamwork and to work collaboratively with other team members and colleagues.
• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, reaching, and walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and performing repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly or frequently to move objects.
• Proficient computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Why Coastal Horizons

For more than 50 years, Coastal Horizons Center has been a leader in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and community services across southeastern North Carolina. We invest in our people because our people are how we deliver on our mission.