Behavioral Medical Director - PA (Telecommute/ FT)

No industry is moving faster than health care. And no organization is better positioned to lead health care forward. We need attention to every detail with an eye for the points no one has considered. You'll help improve the health of millions. And you'll do your life's best work.(sm)
 
Optum Behavioral operates as one of the nation’s leading managed behavioral care organizations. With more than 130,000 clinicians and facilities, our tiered behavioral health network is one of the largest in the United States. Our clinical bench of more than 1,000 doctors and other clinicians — many of them specialists in behavioral health conditions — focus on what matters most.  Position Summary:
The Behavioral Medical Director position is responsible for helping to improve access to quality behavioral healthcare services for children and adolescents enrolled in Pennsylvania Health Choices plans. This role will work closely with primary care providers and other prescribers in the state to improve their ability to meet the psychiatric needs of their patients. This will be accomplished through providing direct behavioral health consultations to primary care providers, education and training of primary care providers on trending behavioral health topics within the state, and regular engagement of primary care providers and Physical Health MCOs on behavioral health issues facing the health system in Pennsylvania.
 
Behavioral Health Consultation. Provide behavioral health consultations regarding ‘Best Practices’ for the treatment and management of children and adolescents.  Topics can range from diagnostic questions to evidenced based prescribing of psychiatric medications, to parental guidance and overall treatment planning. The primary goal is for these consultations to help address the challenges and limitations of primary care by increasing the primary care provider’s effectiveness in handling behavioral health issues.
 
Education and Training of Primary Care Providers. Through the tracking and trending of behavioral health consults provided to providers in the state, the Behavioral Health Medical Director will create provider training to address trending behavioral health issues seen in the state. This position will influence the health system at many levels including through articles on key topics and issues, webinars, and face to face meeting with high volume providers in each Health Choices Zone.

Engagement of Health Choices MCOs. Optum will be in a unique position to evaluate the access of the members utilizing services as well as how effective the coordination between Physical Health and Behavioral Health MCOs is. The Behavioral Health Medical Director will work with our Consult line team to identify gaps in hand-offs between Physical Health MCOs and Behavioral Health MCOs and recommend actions to be taken by those organizations to ensure their members are receiving the best care possible.
 
The Behavioral Health Medical Director is a unique opportunity to improve the health system for Pennsylvania Health Choices members. This individual will leverage their knowledge of behavioral Health and Child Psychiatry to improve the lives of individuals through consultations and improving the system by removing barriers to psychiatric care through engagement of MCOs and providers. 
Primary Responsibilities:



Ensuring  consistent quality of care by ensuring primary care providers have access to expert psychiatric advice

Convene internal meetings to ensure the quality of the psychiatric consultation program and identify areas of opportunity to engage providers and system stakeholders in training or system improvements

Facilitate meetings and training focused on improving knowledge and capacity to address behavioral health issues in a primary care setting

Oversight of  team productivity and timely regional coverage of PCPs

Participate in quarterly meetings with all Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations (BH MCOs) and PH MCOs within the HC zone.

Responsible for maintaining the clinical integrity of the program and keep current regarding prevalent treatment protocols and philosophies including those that address consumer cultural preferences

Required Qualifications:


Licensed Physician in the state of Pennsylvania

Board Certified in child & adolescent psychiatry

Demonstrated understanding of the clinical application of the principles of engagement, empowerment, rehabilitation and recovery

Experience working with community based programs and resources designed to aid the Pennsylvania Medicaid population

Knowledge of post-acute care planning such as home care, discharge planning, case management, and disease management a plus

Travel within the state of PA required; approximately 10%

PC proficiency, data analysis and strong organizational skills necessary 
Preferred Qualifications:


Minimum of 3 years of experience as a practicing psychiatrist post residency 
Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm)
 
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 
 
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
 
Keywords: Psychiatrist, Child, Clinician, Medicaid, Managed Care
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