Consulting/Collaborative Psychiatrist

This is an ideal opportunity for a psychiatrist who enjoys mentoring advanced practice providers and contributes to psychiatric expertise within an integrated care environment without the demands of traditional care schedule. This role is not purely transactional – we view our collaborating psychiatrists as valued clinical leaders and strategic partners. We intentionally cultivate a culture of mutual respect, professional excellence, and collaboration where physicians and nurse practitioners work together to elevate patient care.

The Consulting Psychiatrist serves as a clinical consultant, educator, and collaborative resource for psychiatric advanced practice providers at Lower Lights Health. The consulting psychiatrist provides physician collaboration, clinical consultation, case review, and education for Lower Lights psychiatric advanced practice providers, with responsibility for supporting designated psychiatric APRNs operating under Standard Care Arrangements.

The primary focus of the role is clinical consultation, case review, education, and guidance related to diagnosis, psychopharmacology, treatment planning, risk assessment, and appropriate levels of care. Direct patient care may be included based on organizational need and mutual agreement but is not the primary function of the position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Core Responsibilities

These are the primary expectations of the position and should be listed first:

- Collaborating Physician Responsibilities: Fulfill applicable Standard Care Arrangement and collaborating physician responsibilities for designated psychiatric APPs.

- Scheduled Consultation: Participate in scheduled individual or group case reviews.

- Complex Clinical Guidance: Provide expertise on complex psychiatric presentations, diagnostic clarification, medication management, treatment resistance, controlled medications, substance use, risk assessment, and level-of-care decisions.

- Clinical Questions: Be available for consultation questions during established hours and through designated communication methods.

- Documentation and Review: Complete required documentation and reviews associated with applicable Standard Care Arrangements.

- Patient Safety: Collaborate with clinical leadership regarding patient safety, quality-of-care concerns, and clinical escalation.

- Integrated Care: Support safe, evidence-based treatment planning and collaborate with psychiatric APPs within their scope of practice.

2. Additional Responsibilities (As Needed and Within Contracted Hours)

These are contributions the organization may request based on clinical needs and organizational priorities.

- Education and Development: Provide case-based education, medication updates, diagnostic reviews, APP onboarding, and professional development. Identify educational needs and emerging clinical trends. Support students or trainees when mutually agreed upon.

- Protocols and Guidelines: Contribute to psychiatric protocols, treatment pathways, prescribing standards, and clinical guidelines.

- Quality Initiatives: Participate in quality-improvement activities, policy development, and initiatives involving medication safety, controlled substances, documentation, suicide-risk procedures, and other behavioral health priorities.

- Peer and Chart Review: Conduct peer review, chart review, and documentation audits as requested.

- Meetings: Attend relevant provider, behavioral health, quality, and interdisciplinary meetings when psychiatric expertise is needed.

- Broader Integrated-Care Consultation: Provide psychiatric consultation to primary care and other designated clinicians, and collaborate with hospitals, crisis services, specialty providers, and community treatment programs as appropriate.

- Direct Patient Care, When Assigned: Direct patient care is not a routine expectation. Limited evaluations, medication management, risk assessments, referrals, telepsychiatry, or in-person services may be mutually agreed upon and separately scheduled within the physicians agreed-upon scope and hours.

Professional and Organizational Responsibilities

- Maintains required licenses, registrations, credentialing, and continuing education.

- Completes required consultation or clinical documentation in a timely manner.

- Complies with Lower Lights Health policies, HIPAA, prescribing requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations.

- Performs other related duties assigned by the Chief Medical Officer that are consistent with the consultative nature and scheduled hours of the role.

SCHEDULING EXPECTATIONS

- This is a part-time, hourly position.

- Expected commitment is approximately 2-4 hours per week, with scheduling established by mutual agreement based on consultation needs

- Services may be provided in person and/or virtually.

- Participation in regularly scheduled psychiatric APP consultation meetings is expected.

- The psychiatrist is not expected to provide continuous on-call coverage unless separately agreed upon in writing.

This job description describes the general duties and requirements of the position and is not intended to be exhaustive. Responsibilities may be modified based on organizational needs and mutual agreement.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

- M.D. or D.O. degree

- Completion of an accredited psychiatry residency

- Board certification or board eligibility in psychiatry

- Current and unrestricted Ohio medical license

- Current prescribing authority and DEA registration, when required

- Demonstrated expertise in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and psychopharmacology

- Strong consultation, communication, teaching, and leadership skills

- Ability to work effectively with advanced practice providers and multidisciplinary teams

- Experience in integrated care, community mental health, primary care, or an FQHC preferred