Adult Inpatient - Unit Chief

Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY) is adding an Adult Unit Chief to the Inpatient Unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. The 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 Health Sciences University to maintain its high healthcare delivery standards 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 NYC Health + Hospitals 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.  

NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system in the United States. Dedicated to providing the highest quality health care services to all New Yorkers with compassion, dignity and respect, and regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

Opportunity Details:

The Unit Chief collaborates with a robust interdisciplinary treatment team, including nurses, psychologists, clinical pharmacists, social workers, licensed creative arts therapists, and peer counselors to oversee daily operations of an Adult Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.

Oversee Unit Clinical Structure

1. Establish and oversee interdisciplinary teams and team meetings
2. Ensure that community meetings and other therapeutic groups take place as scheduled
3. Participate in Behavioral Codes on the unit, providing leadership to the staff and patient community
4. Participate in Medical Codes on the unit until the Code Team arrives

Provide Direct Patient Care

1. Provide direct care for a case load of patients on the unit, including appropriate and timely documentation

Monitor Patient Care

1. Work with all teams on the unit to monitor length of stay and appropriate dispositions, particularly ensuring that:
2. Patients who are refusing medications are taken to court promptly
3. Patients who have reached their 18^th day are referred for state hospitalization for continuing treatment
4. Patients who would benefit from AOT are referred promptly
5. Other potential barriers to discharge are identified and solved for
6. Work with the medical-consultation team ensure that medical problems are properly identified and managed
7. Ensure that legal statuses are up to date and accurate
8. Provide clinical consultation to teams on your unit
9. Assist and supervise unit psychiatrists and nurse practitioners as needed
10. Monitor the need for psychiatrist assessments and other components of applications of aftercare, in such applications for appropriate housing, residential placements and state referrals
11. Participates and conducts inter-disciplinary case discussions (tier reviews) of complex cases as per policy

Chart Completion

1. Monitor medical records for timely completion and clinical accuracy

Performance Improvement, Quality Assurance and Risk Management

1. Participate in Performance Improvement and Quality Assurance activities, including chart reviews. Educates unit 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
2. In collaboration with risk management reviews major incidents on the inpatient unit
3. Monitor the use of emergency procedures including: restraints, manual holds, and emergency IM medications

Coverage

1. In partnership with the Medical Director of Acute Inpatient Services, ensure that there is adequate psychiatric coverage on the unit at all times, including staff vacations

Regulatory Activities

1. Assist in the preparation for surveys
2. Maintain awareness of the standards for certification by the various regulatory agencies including NY Office of Mental Health and The Joint Commission

Utilization management

1. Work with the UM department to conduct MD to MD reviews and participate in any appeals to ensure authorization of inpatient stays
2. 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 Psychiatry 
• M.D. or D.O. from an accredited school of medicine 
• Completed residency training in an accredited program within Psychiatry
• License to practice medicine in the State of New York 

Wages and Benefits include:

Annual Base Salary: $276,000 based on 40-hour work week. Additional compensation available for extra call or sessional/per diem hours.

The annual total value of the compensation package is estimated at $407,600**, which includes the baseline salary, 401 (k) contribution, sessional/per diem hours, and other factors as set forth below:

• Estimated annual compensation for 10 additional sessional/per diem hours worked per week is $104,000***.
• 401(k) Company Contribution (subject to IRS contribution limits):
  • Employees are immediately vested in a 3% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required.
  • After one year of service, employees receive an additional 7% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required.
• Annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) Reimbursement.
• Generous Annual Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation, Sick, Holiday, and CME days.
• Medical, Prescription, and Dental Coverage: Top-tier plans with employee contributions significantly below market rates.
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage: Equal to 2x your salary (up to a maximum of $300,000) provided at no cost to you. 
  • Additional employee-paid Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage is available for you and your family.
• Loan Forgiveness: Position may be eligible for loan forgiveness through certain state or federal programs.
• Medical Malpractice Coverage (equivalent to occurrence-based): Provided at no cost to the employee.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) mission is to provide accountable, responsive, quality care with the highest degree of sensitivity to the needs of the diverse population that lives in our New York Community. PAGNY is one of the largest physician groups in the country and directly employs nearly 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who provide services to NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually.  Our providers are highly skilled professionals with outstanding credentials who deliver the highest level of quality healthcare to patients throughout New York City.   

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. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Our policies ensure equal opportunities for all. Learn more about our initiatives by visiting our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page.

*Salary Disclosure Information:

The annual base salary listed complies with the New York City law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The annual base salary listed is for full-time employment and does not include bonuses/incentive compensation or benefits. Actual total compensation depends on many factors, including experience, specialties, historical productivity, and historical collections.

**The annual total value of the compensation package shown is provided as an illustration and is not guaranteed.

***In 2023, Psychiatrists worked an average of 14 sessional/per diem hours per week.