Physician Assistant Crisis Continuum Services

Oakland Community Health Network•Pontiac, MI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Chief Medical Officer and the Medical Director of Crisis Continuum Services, the Crisis Continuum Services Physician Assistant assesses and treats individuals experiencing behavioral health crises as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team. The role supports OCHN’s crisis system, including Crisis Assessment & Triage, the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), Crisis Residential Unit (CRU), Sober Support Unit, Mobile Crisis, Crisis Line/Hotline, and Behavioral Health Urgent Care. The Physician Assistant helps oversee crisis-related determinations and supports an integrated, evidence-based crisis continuum that meets clinical standards, uses best practices, and responsibly allocates resources. The position provides direct clinical care, including psychiatric assessments, medication management, diagnostic study interpretation, risk assessments, substance-related assessments, and clinical disposition recommendations. It collaborates with a psychiatrist-led multidisciplinary team and leads huddles and interdisciplinary rounds to address barriers, update risk assessments, and finalize dispositions. The role also coordinates transitions with internal teams, hospitals, emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers. The Physician Assistant supports quality, compliance, and performance efforts by adhering to clinical measures and KPIs, applicable OCHN policies, state and Medicaid requirements, accreditation standards, and the Michigan Mental Health Code. The position participates in Root Cause Analyses and special reviews as directed and serves on OCHN committees as assigned. This is a weekend part-time position working every weekend, with one of the stated Saturday–Sunday shifts: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m. The position may include evening, weekend, or holiday coverage and requires on-site presence at the RCC, with hybrid work for administrative tasks when appropriate. The candidate must be able to complete the job’s physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation. A competitive salary based on experience and a comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from a nationally accredited university.
Active Physician Assistant license in good standing with the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Active Michigan LARA Board of Pharmacy Controlled Substance license in good standing.
United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Controlled Substance Registration Certificate.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
At least two years of clinical experience as a physician assistant in a behavioral health setting.
No history of criminal misdemeanor or felony.
Attest to no complaints or penalties from the respective licensing board.
Working knowledge of the Michigan Mental Health Code, MDHHS policy, Medicaid/PIHP requirements, SAMHSA Crisis Guidelines, suicide and violence risk assessment, psychopharmacology, co-occurring substance use disorder care, EHR documentation, and HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2.
Leadership, communication, teaching, and data-driven quality improvement skills.
Ability to work effectively, confidently, and respectfully with diverse populations and partners.
High level of personal and professional ethics and integrity.
Ability to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working in crisis or emergency settings.

Responsibilities

Provide high-quality, cost-effective physician assistant care consistent with licensing, accreditation, and payer standards.
Conduct psychiatric assessments and medication management.
Interpret diagnostic studies, including laboratory tests, imaging, and ECGs.
Assess suicide and violence risk and evaluate substance intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal, including use of structured assessment tools and symptom screening questionnaires.
Determine level of care within crisis workflows, including emergency department transfer, inpatient care, CSU, CRU, partial hospital, or outpatient care.
Provide clinical disposition recommendations.
Complete timely EHR documentation and comply with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
Participate as an integral member of a psychiatrist-led multidisciplinary team to deliver rapid, reliable, evidence-based care and disposition determinations.
Lead daily or shift huddles and interdisciplinary rounds to resolve barriers, update risk, and finalize dispositions.
Coordinate with internal teams, hospitals and emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers to support warm handoffs and least-restrictive, recovery-oriented transitions.
Promote person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practice across teams.
Adhere to quality measures and KPIs, including time to triage, time to disposition, 23-hour utilization, return-in-crisis rates, and warm handoff completion.
Comply with OCHN policies and procedures, MDHHS and Medicaid requirements, accreditation standards, and the Michigan Mental Health Code.
Participate in Root Cause Analyses and special reviews as directed by the Chief Medical Officer or Medical Director of Crisis Continuum Services.
Serve on OCHN committees as directed by the Chief Medical Officer.