Under the Director of Behavioral Health (MD), the Advanced Practice Provider is responsible for direct patient care for low–income and uninsured patients referred from medical clinics and community-based teams.

The Advanced Practice Provider will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, peer support specialists, and pharmacists, to develop and implement comprehensive assessment and treatment plans for a broad range of complex mental health conditions. The Advanced Practice Provider would also have the opportunity for programmatic development and management of disease-specific initiatives within behavioral health, ensuring that our special population
continues to receive an optimal continuum of care.

Central Health's mandate is to serve as the safety net for those individuals within the county who need healthcare services. Mission alignment and empathetic approach are essential to our goal of advancing health equity, inclusion, unparalleled patient experience, and positive clinical outcomes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

-Under physician supervision, provides direct patient care within Central Health’s direct practice clinics.
-Recommend, prescribe, or implement appropriate medical drug therapies and related therapeutic treatments, while ensuring compliance with approved protocols and emphasizing effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency.
-Develop and execute patient-centered treatment plans based on patient assessments, evidence-based medicine, care standards, professional practice guidelines, and collaboration with physicians.
-Educates individuals-served and families regarding medications and treatments, and about health promotion/illness prevention.
-Communicate effective information to patients, families, colleagues, nursing and other health care professionals, as appropriate.
-Maintain accurate records detailing patient treatment plans and outcomes.
-Prepare and provide necessary timely and accurate reports and forms, as may be required by Central Health or facility in the performance of medical services.
-Recommends appropriate community resources to meet the needs of individuals served and their families; and communicates relevant case management information to other professionals.
-Perform medical and administrative services under general guidance and minimal supervision with accountability for specific organizational-level goals.
-Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, assuring appropriate confidentiality is always maintained.
-Interacts with others in a positive, professional manner, contributing to a positive team environment.
-Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

-Verbal and written communication skills. 
-Critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills. 
-Experience with EPIC is a plus. 
-Ability to develop and implement comprehensive outcomes-based patient treatment plans.
-Ability to counsel patients concerning medical and psychological/psychiatric conditions, treatment plans, and behavior modification.
-Ability to interpret and evaluate laboratory and other diagnostic tests.
-Ensure all tasks provided and associated with patient care, patient administrative processes and related duties comply with all regulatory and accreditation standards.
Excellent collaboration skills.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited School of Physician Assistants OR Master’s degree from an accredited School of Nursing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

-2 years as an Advanced Practice Provider

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: 

-2 years as an Advanced Practice Provider in a Behavioral Health Setting

-3-5 years of direct Behavioral Health expierience

-Bilingual (English/Spanish)

-Quality initiative experience

-Patient-centered care experience

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURE:
• Unrestricted license to practice as a Physician Assistant in the State of Texas OR unrestricted license to practice Nursing in the State of Texas/current credentialing as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
• Current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for the purpose of writing prescriptions.
• Current Healthcare Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) through American Heart Association.
• Current Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) for Healthcare Providers through American Heart Association.