County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under administrative and clinical direction, provides professional specialized medical or psychiatric diagnostic and therapeutic specialized services to clients of programs throughout Alameda County Health Care Services Agency; provides technical assistant in program development and medical consultation; assists in policy and protocol development, quality assurance and implementation of program standards; and performs related duties as required.  

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES  

This class is located in the Health Care Services Agency and may report to a Medical Director for clinical direction and to an Administrative Supervisor for general administrative direction. The incumbents provide specialized medical or psychiatric services to patients/clients, families and/or groups.  The Physician III is distinguished from the Physician II class in that the latter provides general medical services.  This class is further distinguished from the next higher class of Physician IV in that the latter class supervises a multidisciplinary team including professional, para-professional, and/or support staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE:  The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification.  However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level.  Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.  

1. Provides medical/psychiatric assessments and develops treatment plans.
2. Provides medical/psychiatric education to patients/clients and families.  
3. Provides medical/psychiatric specialized service consultation to multidisciplinary staff, health care providers and/or the community.
4. Conducts research and/or studies related to the health care service delivery.
5. Prepares a variety of correspondence, case summaries, narrative and statistical reports, program documentation, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
6. Participates in a variety of clinical and administrative meetings.
7. Operates a variety of standard office equipment including a computer.

    

   When Assigned To Behavioral Health Care Services:  
8. Conducts complete psychiatric and general medical evaluations on patients/clients; and develops initial and ongoing treatment plans. 
9. Provides crisis evaluation and intervention to patients/clients; and provides follow-up treatment recommendations.
10. Provides and monitors patients/clients with prescription of psychotropic medications.
11. Collaborates and coordinates treatment plan with other multidisciplinary staff.
12. Refers patients and collaborates with health care providers.
13. Participates in Behavioral Health Care Services Medication Monitoring Program and other related Quality Assurance activities.

     

    When Assigned To Public Health:
14. Determines medical eligibility for program services; approves procedures and treatments.  
15. Provides medical consultation to program staff, community physician regarding implementation of program medical guidelines and new state medical policies.  
16. Serves as liaison for communication and collaboration with local, State, and national health officials regarding program specific or department wide coordination efforts.  
17. Develops and conducts training on medical issues affecting the target population.
18. Participates in infectious disease and Public Health emergency response activities via department-wide or program-specific on-call rotation.
19. Participates and takes a leadership role in quality assurance/improvement activities; and conducts quality assurance audits and validation studies.
20. Reviews and responds to families and providers when services are denied.
21. Assists in planning and conducting in-service training on public health laws, regulations, and response activities pertaining to the control of communicable disease.  
22. Collaborates with health care providers to improve the referral, evaluation and management of individuals who have been diagnosed with or exposed to a communicable disease or for children and youth with medical complexities.
23. Evaluates patients with communicable diseases in a community or safety-net clinic.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

License:

Possession of a license to practice medicine in the State of California.    

Special Requirements:

1. In compliance with the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day on the job.
2. In compliance with Medicare regulations, employees in this classification are required to complete the “Medicare Enrollment Process for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners” through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prior to their first day on the job. Active enrollment in Medicare is a condition of employment. Failure to attain or maintain active enrollment will result in termination.  

In compliance with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Federal Cures Act, Employees in this classification who are required to render direct specialty mental health services in the course of their assignment must successfully be enrolled in Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) web portal prior to commencing employment.

NOTE:  The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE:  The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.  

Knowledge of:  

• Current developments, trends, and research in the medicine/ psychiatry field.
• Principles and practices of a specialized medical/psychiatric area.
• Principles, practices and techniques of medicine and its application.
• Pharmacology/psychopharmacology including law regarding informed consent, dosage ranges, drug incompatibilities, and side effects.
• Medical/Psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.
• Principles, practices and techniques of clinical supervision.
• Disparities in health outcomes for vulnerable populations including socio-economic and environmental factors that affect health equity.
• Principles and practices of effective organization, management, monitoring, quality assurance and quality improvement indicators.
• Principles and practices of public health education and teaching. Interviewing, assessment, and counseling techniques.
• Ten Essential Public Health Services.
• Health systems, agencies community resources and patterns of referral.
• Documentation requirements.
• HIPPA regulations.
• Medical ethics as they relate to patient/client care.    

Ability to:  

• Develop and monitor appropriate treatment plans.
• Diagnose and treat patients/clients.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of medical specialty services.
• Clinically supervise licensed and professional staff.
• Serve on multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintain medical records and prepare reports.
• Exercise interpersonal sensitivity, political astuteness, and group interaction skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Facilitate and model effective written and oral communication with attention to linguistic preferences and cultural proficiency.
• Exercise independent judgment within the scope of authority and practice.
• Prepare clear, accurate and effective reports, correspondence, policies, informational brochures, and other written materials.
• Utilize basic modern office equipment and technology related to work.
• Incorporate departmental core values and ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities.
• Explain and provide services in a manner that is compatible with the needs and preferences of community members from diverse backgrounds.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

JFD:drk  Retyped 3/26/76

nw   Retyped 11/13/85

pb  Retyped 12/19/85

Old doc:  9636H/16

New doc:  5139.doc

ys/3/01

CSC Date:  1/8/85

SG:po  revised 6/22/09

CSC Date: 9/9/09

AC:sa Revised 07/09/2021

CSC Date: 11/03/2021

 IL:saa Revised 3/16/23

CSC Date: 06/14/23    

     

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.