Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI

About the Position: This position is located within Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) in the Department of Family Medicine Warrior Ohana Clinic, in Kapolei, Hawaii.

Tripler Army Medical Center is seeking Clinical Psychologists to join our growing team!  

At Tripler, you will practice alongside civilian and military health care experts and experience unique professional opportunities. Our staff serves by caring for our military but are not subject to military requirements. We operate within safe staffing standards - giving you time to provide exceptional care. 

Also known as the “big pink building on the hill”, Tripler is a 450 bed, Level II Trauma facility and participates in unique partnerships with civilian facilities to provide care to non-beneficiary trauma victims. 

Want to hear what it’s like to work at Tripler? Check it out: https://youtu.be/b6E1XBHlEyc 

In addition to salary, employees will receive an 8.9% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA); subject to change.   

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/ 

Also known as the “big pink building on the hill”, Tripler is a 450 bed, Level II Trauma facility and participates in unique partnerships with civilian facilities to provide care to non-beneficiary trauma victims. 

Want to hear what it’s like to work at Tripler? Check it out: https://youtu.be/b6E1XBHlEyc 

In addition to salary, employees will receive an 8.9% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA); subject to change.  

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/ 

MAJOR DUTIES

1. Serves as a Clinical Psychologist Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for the Clinic and Behavioral Health System of Care (BHSOC) Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program. Makes mental health diagnoses in accordance with the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) when differential diagnosis is required. Provides individual and group treatment, using various modalities as clinically indicated to include brief problem-focused interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychoeducational classes. Assesses acute mental health and behavioral medicine conditions in beneficiaries who present with such issues. Maintains appropriate documentation of patient care in accordance with current unit and hospital standard operating procedures (SOPs) and current DoD, DHA PCBH, Federal and state regulations. Maintains performance and conduct in accordance with current unit and hospital SOPs; current DoD, DHA, Federal and state regulations; and professional ethics.Assesses and provides intervention for individuals with a wide range of chronic medical conditions, and behavioral health issues affecting medical conditions to include assessment and disposition of beneficiaries with acute and chronic risk. Provides treatment via targeted and efficient appointments for initial and follow-up visits. Performs PCBH biopsychosocial evaluations using expert knowledge of clinical and clinical health psychology. Conducts outpatient group classes, stress management, relaxation training, assertive/social skills training, smoking cessation training, substance abuse identification and brief related interventions appropriate for primary care, as well as evidenced-based interventions for mastery of behavioral health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, post traumatic symptoms etc.) and behavioral medicine conditions (e.g. insomnia, acute and chronic pain, diabetes, weight management etc.) as required. Participates in quality assurance activities. Provides psychological and clinical consultation to physicians, other professionals and paraprofessionals through established consultation channels. Provides feedback to Primary Care Managers (PCMs) regarding consultation findings and recommendations as directed by the current DHA PCBH Administrative Instruction.

Consults with primary care providers to select, approve, and document treatment priorities in SMART goal format. Serves as the authority on primary care psychology for the clinic. Educates clinic staff on the principles of primary care behavioral health via trainings and briefings. Conducts meetings and conferences to review the level of care for appropriateness of treatment in primary care and evaluate and approve referral sources. Establishes cooperative agreements among various providers and clinics throughout the Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Monitors, evaluates, and approves use of community resources. Provides reports and approves consults. Uses objective behavioral outcome measures to evaluate progress in treatment.

2. Provides evidenced-based individual treatment and psychoeducational classes for patients enrolled in primary care clinics. Provides expertise in human behavior as a primary care team member and provides consultation to primary care and specialty clinic providers regarding psychological treatment options to optimize health outcomes. Assists primary care providers with the treatment of patients with known high-risk factors such as suicide, history of trauma, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Conducts PCBH model treatment, monitors, approves, and documents all treatment goals. Reviews and approves the appropriate modality of treatment for each patient. Develops treatment processes and procedures for orientation of patients. Evaluates information/education processes. Institutes changes to increase effectiveness of treatment efforts. Evaluates appropriateness of treatment goals. Determines appropriate dispositions for severe cases. Provides structure and procedures for organization of case staffing information. Establishes policies for case consultation.

3. Executes performance initiatives (PI) through revision of clinical standards and procedures; and performs a variety of quality management/quality assurance (QM/QA) duties to meet the Joint Commission (TJC) requirements. Evaluates clinical records and monitors all objective instrument administration and scoring for quality assurance. Evaluates environment of care. Monitors all risk management issues and takes appropriate action. Establishes and executes performance initiatives. Works with primary care team to develop processes to increase same day “warm handoffs” of patients from the primary care provider to the BHC. Works to increase overall penetration into the enrolled clinic population by targeting common conditions with behavioral components that are amenable to BHC intervention. Performs daily activities to increase BHC clinical productivity (e.g. scrubbing PCM appointment lists, circulating in the clinic and consulting with staff, being vocal in morning huddles etc.). Establishes and monitors objective behavioral outcome measures. Evaluates and revises standard operating procedures. Conducts program evaluation. Consults with ancillary care providers. Substantiates the results of crisis intervention. Reviews data provided in reports of special actions. Reviews statistical data to modify program goals. Evaluates and approves educational materials for use by clinic staff and patients.

4. Provides consultation regarding interpretation and approval of outcome measures and screening instruments. Develops, implements, and evaluates professional development activities, coordinates inter and intra-departmental in-service training on PCBH related topics. Evaluates scope of practice and makes adjustments for increased adherence and efficacy as needed. Evaluates training opportunities, development activities, and orientation activities.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Clinical Psychologist:

Degree: Successful completion of a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service which includes 1) Developing Behavioral Health treatment plans; 2) Administering psychological tests or assessments to interpret patient diagnosis; and 3) Managing data to develop comprehensive medical reports and standard operating procedures. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

License: A current, active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice Psychology independently offered by a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, territory, or jurisdiction is required.