Psychiatric Physician Assistant (PA)

JourneyPure at The River•Murfreesboro, TN

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The Physician Assistant provides comprehensive medical care to patients receiving treatment at JourneyPure at the River in a clinical setting that includes medical detoxification, residential substance use disorder treatment, and co-occurring behavioral health services. Working collaboratively with physicians, psychiatric providers, nursing staff, therapists, admissions, utilization review, and other members of the interdisciplinary team, the PA evaluates and manages patients’ medical needs related to substance use disorders, withdrawal management, and co-occurring conditions. The PA conducts admission histories and physical examinations, provides ongoing medical follow-up and withdrawal management, manages medications, reviews laboratory and diagnostic results, coordinates care, assesses changes in medical condition, and determines when a patient needs a higher level of medical care. The PA practices within the scope permitted by Tennessee law, facility policies, credentialing requirements, and established clinical protocols. The role includes recognizing and responding to medical and psychiatric safety concerns, coordinating transfers and specialty care when indicated, maintaining timely and accurate electronic medical records, and participating in treatment planning, chart review, quality improvement, utilization management, and compliance activities. The PA is expected to support a collaborative treatment environment focused on safety, recovery, dignity, and continuity of care.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant program.
Current and unrestricted Physician Assistant license in Tennessee.
Current NCCPA certification, as applicable.
Current DEA registration when required for assigned prescribing responsibilities.
Current BLS/CPR certification.
Ability to prescribe medications within applicable Tennessee requirements and the provider’s authorized scope of practice.
Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary behavioral health and addiction-treatment environment.
Strong clinical assessment, communication, documentation, and decision-making skills.
Ability to identify when a patient’s condition exceeds the facility’s capabilities and to manage multiple clinical priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; reliable follow-through on abnormal findings, medication issues, laboratory results, and changes in patient condition.
Professional, respectful interaction with patients experiencing substance use and mental health disorders, with appropriate professional boundaries.
Ability to collaborate with medical, psychiatric, nursing, clinical, and administrative leadership.
Maintain required licensure, certifications, and continuing education.
Ability to perform routine clinical examinations, respond to patient-care areas throughout the facility, use electronic medical records, communicate effectively, and respond appropriately to urgent clinical situations.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in addiction medicine, substance use disorder treatment, medical detoxification, behavioral health, emergency medicine, internal medicine, family medicine, or residential treatment.
Experience managing alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Experience with medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Experience treating patients with co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions.
Familiarity with CIWA-Ar, COWS, suicide-risk assessment, and other behavioral health or addiction-treatment assessment tools.
Experience working in an interdisciplinary residential treatment environment.

Responsibilities

Complete comprehensive admission history and physical examinations within required facility and regulatory timeframes.
Review pre-admission assessments, medical and substance use histories, medications, allergies, hospitalizations, laboratory results, and other available records.
Perform physical examinations and identify conditions affecting safe participation in detoxification or residential treatment.
Determine whether further medical evaluation, testing, specialty consultation, or hospital-level evaluation is indicated; collaborate with Admissions and medical leadership about medical complexity and admission appropriateness.
Evaluate and manage withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and other substances using established assessment protocols and clinical findings.
Initiate, continue, modify, or discontinue withdrawal-management medications within the PA’s scope and facility protocols; monitor and adjust treatment when clinically indicated.
Assess for withdrawal complications and escalate care when necessary.
Provide evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and participate in medication-assisted treatment, including buprenorphine and naltrexone management when appropriate and within authorized scope and protocols.
Educate patients about withdrawal, medications, medication-assisted treatment, overdose prevention, and recovery.
Conduct follow-up visits and evaluate acute and chronic medical conditions and common medical complaints in the treatment setting.
Prescribe, discontinue, and adjust medications based on clinical assessment and authorized scope of practice.
Order and interpret laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies; promptly review abnormal results and arrange follow-up.
Monitor medication effectiveness, adverse effects, contraindications, and clinically significant interactions; complete medication reconciliation and resolve discrepancies.
Coordinate primary care and specialty follow-up when needed.
Evaluate acute changes in patients’ conditions, determine when emergency, hospital, specialty, or other higher-level care is needed, and provide stabilization within facility capabilities while arranging transfer when indicated.
Communicate relevant clinical information to receiving hospitals, emergency departments, EMS, and other providers; document transfer and medical-discharge rationale.
Recognize psychiatric symptoms and safety concerns, coordinate with psychiatric providers and the treatment team, and facilitate transfer to a higher psychiatric level of care when indicated.
Participate in the interdisciplinary treatment team, treatment planning, and case consultation; communicate significant changes promptly and coordinate care with external providers and facilities.
Provide clinical guidance and education to nursing staff within the PA’s scope of practice.
Complete accurate, thorough, and timely electronic medical record documentation, orders, medication reconciliations, prescriptions, and discharge medications.
Follow facility policies, professional standards, regulatory requirements, payer expectations, HIPAA, and applicable substance use disorder confidentiality requirements.
Participate in chart review, quality improvement, utilization management, compliance activities, required meetings, and ongoing education when requested.
Maintain licensure and certifications, professional conduct and boundaries, and respectful communication with patients, families, staff, and outside providers.
Perform additional duties consistent with the PA’s professional scope and organizational needs as assigned by medical leadership.