This position is in Rodriguez Army Health Clinic, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Physician Psychiatrist- Term-Not to Exceed 4 years

Incentives Authorized

Fort Buchanan consists of 756 acres (including Las Colinas and Coconut Grove family housing) with a real estate value estimated at $1.2 billion dollars. It serves a population of approximately 130,000 among veterans, retirees, civilians, military personnel and their dependents in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Latin America.

     Fort Buchanan is host to a number of tenant activities, such as: the 1st Mission Support Command, the U.S. Army Reserve major tenant unit, other Reserve and Puerto Rico National Guard components, Navy Reserve, Marine Reserve, Army/Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES), Defense Commissary Agency (DECA), Rodriguez Army Health Clinic (RAHC), Veterinarian Clinic, Defense Military Pay Office (DMPO), Defense Contracting Audit Agency, TRICARE, Community Based Warriors in Transition Unit (CBWTU), Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC), Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), among others.

     Fort Buchanan also hosts a number of non-DoD organizations that provide valuable services to Soldiers, their dependents and community members, such as: Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, U.S. Postal Service, AAFES Concessionaires and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

     As directed by the Chief of the Army Reserve, Fort Buchanan's island wide support mission consists of providing real property management and base operations support for all Army Reserve assets in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Also, on a reimbursable basis, when requested, provide support to the Puerto Rico National Guard and other reserve components of other services.

     Fort Buchanan supports readiness and mission execution, providing quality services and facilities, optimizing resources, sustaining the environment and enhancing the well-being of the community. It conducts its mission sustained by seven directorates; Human Resources, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; Emergency Services, Logistics, Public Works and Information Management; seven support offices - Legal, Public Affairs, Religious Support, Equal Employment Opportunity, Safety, Internal Review and Contracting; and three management and control offices - Resource Management; Plans, Analysis and Integration; and the Administrative Office.

     Among the factors that make U.S. Army Garrison Fort Buchanan unique are: its key and strategic location providing fast and cost-effective support to missions in the Caribbean, Central and South America area or responsibility; its Hispanic cultural ties with Latin America; and its significant role as host of "joint" sister services reserve components representing the U.S. Armed Forces in Puerto Rico.

Links: https://rodriguez.tricare.mil/     

https://home.army.mil/buchanan/

The employee is relied upon to proceed on own initiative and has responsibility for decisions regarding emergency cases as well as normal diagnostic and treatment procedures, and to collaborate actively with Chief, Department of Behavioral Health with program development.

 Directs Quality Assurance studies in areas of responsibility. Makes decisions that have a serious impact on the lives of others, such as recommending hospitalization or determining a service members fitness for duty or assessing and completing a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) evaluations, psychological autopsies, sanity boards, command consultations, other administrative processes as required and prepares reports of such evaluations according to applicable regulations.

Identifies patient treatment needs and arranges for a safe therapeutic outcome. Accomplishes special program assignments such as training, program coordination, research, analysis, and consultation as required. Participates, supports and assumes primary responsibility for specified assignments in QI activities in the Psychiatry Service. Demonstrates an understanding of requirements and benefits of TRICARE and can effectively communicate these to beneficiaries. Prepares and maintains convenience files and outpatient medical records in accordance with service and hospital SOPs. Prepares case summaries and other correspondence in a timely and effective fashion.

Performs duties as a practitioner and consultant in Psychiatry with emphasis on problems of all levels of complexity and must come to the position with knowledge and experience (ideally working with the military population) providing treatment services in any capacity including, but not limited to, the intensive outpatient services, routine outpatient services, consultation liaison services and must be well versed to transition to any area as required. Provides continuing follow-up care for inpatients and outpatients with acute and/or disorders and complications of these disorders, such as psychosis, organic brain syndrome, substance abuse/addictions, etc. Provides psychiatric care for walk-in patients presenting with acute illnesses of minor and major proportions.

The psychiatrist is expected to exercise initiative and sound judgment in establishing evaluation techniques, developing treatment and rehabilitation plans and providing appropriated therapeutic treatment services. Examines and conducts thorough studies of presenting patients and evaluates laboratory and clinical findings, prescribing appropriate treatment or referring patient to appropriate specialty clinic. Collaborates with physicians in other medical specialties on cases involving complicated and multifaceted problems.

Provides professional consultation, supervision and collaborative medical support to other professional staff such as psychologists, advanced practical nurses, mental health specialists, social workers, as well as military specific liaison work with commanders. Employee provides supervision and/or medical support to non-medical mental health providers in Community Mental Health Service and Emergency Room. Based on the complexity of a particular case the incumbent may refer to other medical mental health specialist when this action is considered advisable. Performance is evaluated through various methods which may include spot check of case records, referrals, also sought out from patients and fellow staff members.