General Summary

• To work as part of an interdisciplinary team, providing clinical psychology input within the BIRT neurobehavioral model to clients with acquired brain injury. To liaise with internal and external professionals, family members and clients. To engage in relevant research and advise other professionals as appropriate. Under the direction of the Patient Care Manager, provides inpatient neuropsychological assessment and health-behavior intervention with a focus on rehabilitation and differential diagnosis with a variety of patients including those suffering mostly from brain injury. The majority of the cases will be adult.
• Position will be highly involved in behavior management along with research projects. The neuropsychologist serves as a key member of the interdisciplinary treatment team on the brain injury unit and will consult to ensure the most effective care of patients across the continuum. As an advanced practitioner with expertise in neuropsychology, contributes to the rehabilitation field and to continuous improvement of patient care through involvement in clinical support, education, research, organizational support and professional development.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, and specific individual diagnostic needs of the patients served in his/her department. He/she must be able to assess and interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify each patient's specific needs and provide the care needed by the patient group (pediatric, adolescents and/or geriatric patient group, culture and diagnostic specific).
• Consistently expresses and demonstrates compassion and courtesy for patients. Extends courtesy and support to patient's families/visitors.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Documents all consultative information gathered in patient sessions, patient family sessions, patient care giver sessions, team meetings, and neurobehavioral rounds as appropriate.
• Demonstrates proper de-escalation techniques.
• Maintains current training and certification of such current training.

Respect for individuals, Customer Service, Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Assists staff to identify and address potential breeches in patient information management and confidentiality issues (HIPPA).
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact in a manner that is appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of the persons served, visitors, and colleagues.
• Develops and implements strategies for hands-off communication to convey appropriate patient/ clinical information.
• Performs daily responsibility with a customer service focus exhibited by actively seeking opportunities to exceed customer expectations and prevent potential customer complaints. Initiates and participates in service recovery processes and completes appropriate documentation. Serves as a resource for preempting and managing customer concerns.
• Provides performance feedback related to skills, competency, and teamwork as requested within the peer review system and participates in performance review process as directed by the Patient Therapy Manager.
• Serves as a mediator and facilitator working across boundaries to maximize teamwork and collaboration.

Leadership, Clinical and/or Technical Skills

• Actively leads or participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, departmental projects, staff meetings, and hospital committees/ workgroups as appropriate.
• Coordinates the delivery of Neuropsychological services with other disciplines.
• Delegates tasks appropriately to enhance unit operations and staff development.
• Demonstrates effective documentation including required components of assessment/ reassessment, care-planning, treatment, and patient progress according to hospital and professional practice standards.
• Effectively communicates and collaborates with other medical personnel and makes referrals to other professionals as appropriate.
• Participates effectively in supervisory relationships with the Directory, Patient Therapy Manager, staff, volunteers, students, and others as indicated.
• Participates in family education programming and provides family training, education, and guidance as needed.
• Performs medical chart reviews, selects and administers appropriate assessment tools, scores and interprets assessment data, formulates a diagnosis or diagnoses as appropriate, generates appropriate recommendations based on the diagnosis or diagnoses, and performs follow-up assessment if needed or deemed appropriate.
• Provides direct supervision to Neuropsychology staff, students, and volunteers. Participates in recruitment and choosing new hires for Neuropsychology. Coordinates clinical orientation of new Neuropsychology staff. Serves as a resource for Neuropsychology staff development.
• Serves as a professional representative of Kernan Hospital at job fairs, community fairs, educational offerings, and family tours as requested and as appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with the Patient Therapy Manager and peers to develop and/or revise services, programs, policies, procedures, and protocols.

Quality and Patient Safety:

• Consistently seeks appropriate assistance in the safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.
• Demonstrates knowledge, practice, and accountability for compliance with TJC National Patient Safety Goals.
• Ensures the implementation of policies, procedures, and professional standards and reports variations to the Patient Therapy Manager.
• Guides staff in detecting, reporting, and taking action to avoid or to correct safety risks.
• Participates in the identification and implementation of hospital, program, and/or discipline-specific quality initiatives.
• Recognizes the need for and initiates the process of improvement initiatives with the Patient Therapy Manager.

Cost Effectiveness:

• Assures proper cost controls that ensure quality of care while minimizing costs in supply management.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of salaries budget and staffing guidelines. Utilizes this knowledge in daily staffing decisions. Ensures the adherences to staffing guidelines and the accuracy of the staffing calendar.
• Effectively demonstrates time management skills in the delivery of patient care and/or supervisory roles.
• Employs and encourages practices that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize charge capture.

Education & Research:

• Assumes responsibility for maintaining competency and clinical knowledge-base related to role.
• Coordinates the orientation and mentorship of new or rotating staff.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs and in-service meetings.
• Identifies learning needs of staff members in collaboration with the Patient Therapy Manager. Facilitates educational opportunities to meets those learning needs of staff members.
• Supports and/or participates in approved research initiatives.