Child Inpatient - Unit Chief

Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY) is adding Two (2) Child Unit Chiefs to the Inpatient Unit at Kings County Hospital. NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County's Behavioral Health Center offers a comprehensive suite of services for mental health including First Episode Psychosis program, medical services, opioid treatment, substance use disorders services, a specialized unit for people with Intellectually Disability, an inpatient Extended care unit focusing on the needs of our homeless patients and prevent recidivism, ketamine assisted therapy, and inpatient and outpatient services for adults and children. Our skilled team—including adult and child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, internists, nurses, social workers, creative arts therapists, peer counselors and addiction counselors delivers compassionate care in a secure environment, respecting each patient's dignity and partnering with them on their recovery journey. We also provide educational resources for patients and caregivers to enhance their understanding of mental health and addiction issues and available treatments.

Our services range from psychopharmacology and various forms of psychotherapy (individual, group, and family) to specialized programs like outpatient withdrawal management, medication maintenance (including Methadone and Buprenorphine), overdose prevention, and support for personal development goals such as employment and education. Each patient receives a personalized assessment and treatment plan tailored to their specific needs, ensuring a holistic approach to recovery and health management.

The hospital maintains a strong academic affiliation with SUNY Downstate Medical Center to continue its high standards of healthcare delivery, and to provide its staff with teaching and research opportunities and the chance to work with medical students, residents and fellows very closely.

The mission of NYCHHC is to extend equally to all New Yorkers, regardless of the ability to pay, comprehensive health services of the highest quality in an atmosphere of humane care, dignity, and respect. Their Values are built on a foundation of social and racial equity and has established the ICARE standards for all staff.  

The Unit Chief is the administrative and clinical lead of the assigned inpatient unit and is responsible for all aspects of patient care on the unit. They work with the inter-disciplinary teams to ensure safety and quality on the inpatient unit.

Oversee inpatient structure

• Establish and oversee inter-disciplinary teams and team meetings
• Ensure that community meetings and other therapeutic groups take place as scheduled
• Participate in Behavioral Codes on the unit, providing leadership to the staff and patient community
• Participate in Medical Codes on the unit until the Code Team arrives 

Direct Patient Care

• Provide direct care for a specific number of patients on the unit, including appropriate and timely documentation 

Monitor Patient Care

• Work with all teams to monitor length of stay, particularly ensuring that
  • Patients who are refusing medications are taken to court promptly, and that
  • Patients who have reached their 18^th day are referred for state hospitalization for continuing treatment
• Identify patients who would benefit from AOT and work with their team to ensure that the application is completed.
• Work with medical-consultation team ensure that medical problems are properly managed
• Ensure that legal statuses are up to date and accurate
• Provide clinical consultation to other team (when present) on your unit
• Provide assistance to other psychiatrist (when present), as needed
• Monitor the need for psychiatrist assessments and other components of applications of aftercare, in such applications for appropriate housing, residential placements and state referrals
• Participates and conduct tier reviews as per policy 

Chart Completion

• Monitor chart for completion and clinical accuracy
• Arrange a mechanism to ensure the timely completion of the chart

Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance and Risk Management

• Participate in Performance, Quality Assurance and Clinical pertinence activities, including chart review, and educate inpatient staff members on Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance activities, indicators, etc. and be able to help the unit improve if their performance is below the mean for the service
• In collaboration with risk management reviews major incidents on the inpatient unit

Monitor the use of emergency procedures including:

• Restraints
• Manual holds
• IM’s

Coverage

• Ensure that there is adequate psychiatric coverage on the unit at all times, including staff vacations

Regulatory Activities

• Assist in the preparation for surveys
• Maintain awareness of the standards for certification by the various regulatory agencies

Utilization management

• Work with the UM department to conduct MD to MD reviews and participate in any appeals to ensure authorization of inpatient stay.
• Maintains focus on key strategic priorities including patient experience, access to care, increased market share, and improving financial stability

• Must be board eligible or board certified in Child Psychiatry 
• M.D. or D.O. from an accredited school of medicine with License
• Completed residency training in an accredited program within Psychiatry
• License to practice medicine in the State of New York
•  

Exceptional Benefits Include: 

• Competitive compensation package 
• 10% 401K company contribution after one year of service, with 3% company contribution starting day one 
• Choice of a three tiered, starting at FREE medical plans starting day one 
• Excellent dental insurance including orthodontics coverage starting day one 
• Generous paid time off program 
• CME days and dollars 
• Eligibility for loan forgiveness through the National Student Debt Forgiveness Center 
• Visa candidates are considered including J1 and HHS waivers! 

• Salary: $247,200 - $257,500 and potential to earn more for call coverage
   
   

The Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY), a tax-exempt organization affiliated with NYC Health + Hospitals, is one of the largest physician groups in New York State and directly employs nearly 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who serve seven of New York City’s public hospitals, numerous public health community-based practices, and the city’s Correctional Health Service. 

 Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (“PAGNY”) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender dysphoria, national origin, age, religion, disability, military and veteran status, marital or parental status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision. We require applications to be completed online.   

If you wish to view PAGNY’s EEO policies, please click here. Please click here to view the Federal “EEO is the law” poster or visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm for more information.