Medical Director of Admissions

Silver Hill Hospital is seeking a Medical Director of Admissions to lead an experienced interdisciplinary team in facilitating the admission of adult and adolescent patients to our 39-bed inpatient service and six residential treatment programs. Depending on qualifications, the Medical Director of Admissions may also be asked to lead the community assessment program. Administrative responsibilities include working closely with our telephonic Admissions Service in reviewing potential admissions for psychiatric and medical appropriateness. As one of the pivotal patient- and family-facing clinicians in the organization, excellent interpersonal skills are required.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care for adults, including psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, collaborative treatment planning, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. 

• Participate in the pre-assessment process for prospective patients and respond promptly to admissions and/or inpatient services requests for input and consultation.

• Lead the inter-disciplinary treatment team meetings to review clinical progress, including the review of results from psychological assessments, feedback and observations from residential counselors and group therapists, and the input of other staff (e.g., chaplain), to determine the need for additional assessment or specialized interventions (e.g., OCD treatment). 

• Attend administrative meetings and team huddles to ensure assessments of patients includes appropriate safety monitoring and follow-up, as well as appropriate care.

• Assist the team in identifying transference/countertransference dynamics and use this understanding to support reflective functioning that furthers the patient’s treatment (i.e., responsiveness based on deliberation rather than reactivity).

• Provide psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care for adults, including psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, collaborative treatment planning, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. 

• Support quality communication and dialogue between members of the staff and the inter-disciplinary teams, with the intent of providing an exceptional, seamless, and high-quality patient experience.

• Foster cohesive teams and create an inclusive team environment where all voices are welcomed. Help build trust and camaraderie between team members. 

• Support an environment where open discussion is encouraged, and model openness to differing perspectives and disagreements. Develop clear and inclusive decision-making processes.

• Assess referrer preferences and needs for communication; respond to referrers promptly; provide timely handover of pertinent clinical information; closely collaborate with external providers.

• Monitor needs for clinical services and identify opportunities for new services, including strengthening relationships with external referrers and coordinating care around referred patients.

• Work cross-functionally with clinicians from all disciplines and members of other departments (e.g., chaplain, wellness staff, etc.), as well as with clinical leadership to ensure that high quality clinical care is being provided consistently, and in accordance with quality standards of care.

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders including Admissions, Nursing, Social Work, Residential Counselors, Quality Improvement and Risk Management, Patient Experience, Health Information Management, and Clinical Leadership, as needed, to ensure that clinical services are properly documented. 

• Maintain timely documentation that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements and fulfills hospital policies.

• Ensure all policies and procedures for psychiatric services reflect best practices.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Must have the ability to function optimally in a stressful environment, and the ability to remain calm in emotionally charged situations.

• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office applications).

• Proficiency in clinical program development.

• Excellent leadership skills.

Education and Experience:

• MD degree.

• Board certification in Psychiatry or board eligible with plan for certification within 18 months.

• Licensed in the state of Connecticut.

• Experience with electronic medical records.

Silver Hill Hospital (“SHH”) is fully committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all present employees as well as for applicants in all phases of the employment process (recruitment, hiring, assignment, conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline and termination). Therefore, except in any cases of bona fide occupational qualification or need, SHH will act without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, past/present history of mental disorder, intellectual disability, physical or learning disability, genetic information or any other characteristics protected by applicable law, (unless it is shown by supervisory personnel that a disability prevents performance of the work involved or may result in undue hardship) in all aspects of the employment process and relationship. This policy is based on the understanding that an applicant is able to handle the job requirements. Employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities.