Licensed Psychiatrist

AvaMed Workforce • Chowchilla, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

AvaMed Workforce is seeking a Psychiatrist for a full-time assignment at a California state correctional facility in Chowchilla. The role provides extensive psychiatric services to mentally ill inmates or wards under the clinical direction of the Chief Psychiatrist, Senior Psychiatrist, or designee, and the administrative direction of the Chief of Mental Health. Psychiatrists may also provide review, evaluation, or consultative services in correctional institutions, headquarters, or field offices.

The position is scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (four 10-hour shifts). One week of orientation is required, and flexibility is needed during orientation. The stated rate is $140 per hour. An active California Psychiatrist license is required. The role includes direct patient care, clinical documentation, treatment planning, medication management, collaboration with other healthcare providers, and periodic on-call or call-back coverage for emergencies and follow-ups.

Requirements

• Active California Psychiatrist license.
• Ability to provide face-to-face clinical interviews at cell fronts in inmate housing units.
• Ability to climb stairs and walk long distances where required by multi-tiered housing units.
• Flexibility during the one-week orientation.

Responsibilities

• Meet with mentally ill patients for crisis interventions and face-to-face interviews, including interviews at cell fronts in inmate housing units.
• Conduct initial mental health evaluations, including criminal, psychiatric, and substance abuse histories, and recommend treatment based on patients’ needs.
• Conduct suicide risk evaluations using clinical reviews, assessment protocols, chart reviews, documentation, and consultations as needed.
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDTT) meetings and document care, including face-to-face contacts and IDTT meetings.
• Monitor patient progress using SOAPE-formatted progress notes.
• Apply community standards of practice for psychiatric treatment and ethical standards.
• Perform mental status examinations during face-to-face clinical interviews.
• Identify signs and symptoms of medical and psychological disorders to diagnose, assess, and manage presenting symptoms.
• Review mental health records, institutional chromos, probation reports, court records, and other documents to formulate diagnoses and develop treatment plans.
• Review and diagnose psychiatric patients of all ages and assess progress, effectiveness, and appropriateness of treatment services.
• Consult with a supervising psychiatrist on unusual, complex, or serious cases, or present cases at clinical conferences.
• Provide clinical consultation to psychiatric staff on unusual, complex, or serious cases requiring technical expertise.
• Prescribe medication as appropriate, using the CDCR Correctional Formulary or obtaining non-formulary approval.
• Interpret laboratory results and make appropriate referrals to medical services.
• Determine needed psychiatric and general medical treatment and prescribe treatment changes when indicated.
• Comply with mandated reporting requirements, including reporting suspected child or elder abuse, danger to self or others, and duty-to-warn obligations.
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients’ families and caretakers to support effective treatment delivery.
• Consult with primary care medicine to identify and manage co-occurring, comorbid, and treatment-related medical conditions.
• Conduct clinical rounds and review patient progress, including assessments in housing units.
• Periodically serve as psychiatrist of the day for on-call or call-back coverage during weekends and off-hours, including patient emergencies, Mental Health Crisis Bed follow-up, and five-day follow-ups.
• Administer psychiatric treatment with assistance from other healthcare providers as necessary.
• Maintain order and supervise the conduct of persons committed to the correctional facility to help prevent escapes or injury to themselves or others.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed