Description
Under the general direction of the Chief Medical Officer, the Medical Director of Crisis Continuum Services provides clinical and administrative leadership for OCHN’s crisis system, including Crisis Assessment & Triage, Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), Crisis Residential Unit (CRU), Sober Support Unit, Mobile Crisis, and Crisis Line/Hotline. This physician will lead the redesign and ongoing operation of an integrated, evidence-based crisis continuum, set clinical standards, and serve as final medical authority for crisis-related determinations. Recommended allocation: 50% clinical / 50% administrative (alternative track available: 75% clinical / 25% administrative depending on program volume and leadership coverage).
Essential Functions
Clinical Care and Oversight
- Performs all duties and responsibilities of a psychiatrist; provides high-quality, cost-effective care consistent with licensing, accreditation, and payer standards.
- Conducts and/or supervises psychiatric evaluations, medication management, suicide and violence risk assessments, and substance intoxication/overdose/withdrawal assessments (including the use of structured assessment tools and symptom screening questionnaires); within crisis workflows determines level of care (e.g., ED transfer, inpatient, CSU, CRU, partial hospital, outpatient).
- Provides final clinical disposition decisions and physician certifications as required (e.g., involuntary petitions/clinical certifications under the Michigan Mental Health Code).
- Ensures timely documentation in the EHR and adherence to HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
Leadership and Program Direction
- Serves as the lead medical authority across the Crisis Continuum; designs protocols, care pathways, and escalation algorithms consistent with SAMHSA Crisis Guidelines and MDHHS expectations.
- Leads the build-out of Crisis Assessment & Triage services, integrating psychiatrists and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with nurses, bachelor’s-level clinicians, counselors, social workers, and psychologists, leading this multi-disciplinary team to deliver rapid, reliable, evidence-based care and disposition determinations.
- Partners with internal teams, hospitals/EDs, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers to ensure warm handoffs and least-restrictive, recovery-oriented care transitions.
Supervision & Collaboration
- Serves as collaborating physician of record for APPs; provides regular chart audits, scope-of-practice oversight, and timely case consultation.
- Leads daily/shift huddles and interdisciplinary rounds (nursing, crisis clinicians, peers, behavioral health technicians (BHTs)/milieu staff, discharge planners) to resolve barriers, update risk, and finalize dispositions.
- Provides clinical supervision to medical students, residents, and fellows.
Quality, Compliance, and Performance
- Designs and monitors quality measures and key performance indicators (KPIs) (e.g., time to triage, time to disposition, 23-hour utilization, return-in-crisis rates, warm handoff completion).
- Ensures compliance with all relevant OCHN policies/procedures, MDHHS/Medicaid requirements, accreditation standards, and the Michigan Mental Health Code; participates in Root Cause Analyses and special reviews.
- Oversees utilization review for level-of-care decisions, second opinions, and re-evaluations for individuals awaiting placement.
- Serves on OCHN Medical Directors’ Advisory Group (MDAG) and other committees as directed by OCHN Chief Medical Officer.
Education & Workforce Development
- Develops and delivers training (risk tools, de-escalation, medication algorithms, triage workflows); helps develop curricula for medical student, resident, and fellow rotations (in addition to clinical supervision).
- Promotes a culture of person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practice across teams.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Co-leads strategic planning, development of staffing models (psychiatrists/APPs), scheduling, and coverage plans for 24/7 operations; contributes to budgeting, grants, and regulatory reporting.
- Coordinates with OCHN Core Provider Agencies (CPAs), Medicaid Health Plans, and other community providers to support integration and care continuity.
Job Requirements and Qualifications
Education:
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school.
Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):
- Board Certified (or eligible) in Psychiatry; Michigan medical license; Michigan Controlled Substance License; DEA registration; BLS.
- Preferred additional fellowship training and board certification (e.g., Addiction Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, or Geriatric Psychiatry).
Experience Requirements:
- Minimum 5 (five) years post-residency clinical experience, including crisis/emergency psychiatry.
Preferred Requirements:
- Prior supervisory/leadership experience is preferred.
Job Specific Competencies/Skills:
- Deep knowledge of the Michigan Mental Health Code; MDHHS policy; Medicaid/PIHP requirements; SAMHSA Crisis Guidelines; suicide and violence risk assessment; psychopharmacology; co-occurring SUD care; EHR documentation; HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2.
- Leadership, communication, teaching, and data-driven QI skills; ability to work effectively, confidently, and respectfully with diverse populations and partners.
- A high sense of personal and professional ethics and integrity.
Oakland Community Health Network’s Core Competencies:
- Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization; demonstrating loyalty to the organization and its mission and values; maintaining social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adhering to codes of conduct and ethical principles. (Integrity/Building Trust)
- Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships, recognizing that the ultimate customer is the person served. (Customer Focus)
- Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application. (Continuous Learning)
- Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence in addition to consciously adopting organizational standards of excellence. (Work Standards)
- Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message. (Communication)
Additional Information
- Position may include evening/weekend/holiday coverage; on-site presence at the RCC with hybrid work for administrative tasks when appropriate.
- Full-time employment with benefits preferred; qualified part-time/contract arrangements will be considered to meet service needs.
- The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
- Salary will be commensurate with experience.
The information provided above highlights the key aspects of the role OCHN is looking to fill. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties, as these may change based on business needs.
The chosen candidate will receive a competitive salary based on experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes a range of medical insurance options, dental and vision coverage, and more.
OCHN is committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive and equitable culture. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that embraces and encourages our employees’ differences. This includes (but is not limited to) ability, age, color, family type, gender expression and identity, individual expression, medical conditions, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and all other diverse and wonderful characteristics.
