Chief/Chair, Psychiatry

Chief/Chair, Psychiatry

• San Leandro, CA

• John George Psychiatric Hospital

• Physicians JGP ER

• Full Time - Day

• Management

• $142.34 - $237.23 / Hour

• Req #:42466-31512

• FTE:1

• Posted:July 23, 2025

Summary

John George Psychiatric Pavilion, part of Alameda Health System, is the county psychiatric hospital and Psychiatric Emergency Services for Alameda County and serves a diverse patient population in California's East Bay Area. The Department of Psychiatry additionally includes consult services at Highland Hospital, two Intensive Outpatient Programs, and is set to expand with state funds to a Medical-Psych Unit and a Geri-Psych Unit. As a provider of care to all patients, Alameda Health System provides high quality, accessible care to our community's most vulnerable patients. Our providers and staff are dedicated to our patients and would love to welcome others who share our mission.

We are currently recruiting for a Department Chair to join our team. The position is based at John George but will oversee psychiatric services to the county at multiple sites. It would allow for clinical time as well as collaborating with our provider and leadership team across the system. This role will be 0.3 Clinical and 0.7 Administrative. Applicant should be Board Certified General and Adult Psychiatry, medical license and DEA license in California. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply!

SUMMARY : The Chair of Psychiatry is identified as the clinical and operational leader of the Department of Psychiatry to ensure the delivery of safe, timely, high-value, equitable care to our patients and the fulfillment of all relevant clinical services within the department. The Chair has multi-site responsibility for oversight of departmental services, including acute inpatient psychiatry at John George Psychiatric Hospital, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Consult-liaison services in the ER, acute care hospital setting (Alameda, San Leandro, Highland) and SNF (Fairmont), partial hospitalization program, outpatient clinics and other programs that may be developed. The Chair oversees quality improvement activities within the department and ensures all facilities meet established goals; oversees the providers and clinical personnel who report up to them and is accountable for all clinical and operational processes and outcomes within the department; invests in faculty development. In partnership with their nursing and operational partners, responsible for meeting all goals that are in service to the AHS mission and patients we serve.

The Chair of Psychiatry reports to the AHS Chief Medical Officer or their designee.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE: Following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

1. Provides minimum of 0.3 FTE clinical services

2. Exercises responsibility for Departmental Medical Staff duties including, but not limited to, making recommendations for the granting of Medical Staff privileges, and the appointment and reappointment of Medical Staff, as set forth in the Medical Staff Bylaws including, but not limited to, Joint Commission standards, e.g. OPPE, FPPE, and annual staff evaluations.

3. Participates in Medical Staff peer review processes in alignment with Just Culture principles in accordance with Medical Staff Bylaws and applicable policies.

4. Serves as a member of the Medical Executive Committee - gives guidance on the overall medical policies of the Medical Staff and makes specific recommendations regarding their department. Maintains quality patient care services by planning and developing programs to ensure compliance with established county, state and federally mandated policies and procedures, including licensing and accreditation programs, including graduate medical education.

5. Serves as an internal and external champion of Alameda Health System and promotes an unwavering commitment to high quality care, excellent patient experiences, and an engagement and support of all staff across their department and the system overall.

6. Partners with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)/designee, Operational Dyad, and other stakeholders to develop and update a clinical scope of services for their department that outlines basic aspects of clinical service offerings and patient experience expectations; these offerings shall be informed by clinical needs, staffing expertise, resource availability/constraints, and a care delivery model that aligns with the overall strategic goals of Alameda Health System.

7. Partners with their Operational Dyad to oversee patient care delivery with respect to patient safety, performance improvement (including pay for performance portfolios), clinical staffing, quality of care, informatics, budget and variance management, and departmental culture.

8. Communicates regularly with the administrator, the director of nursing, provides leadership needed to achieve medical care goals.

9. Guides and advises the facility's committees related to quality assurance / performance improvement, pharmacy, infection control, safety, and medical care.

10. Participates in licensure and compliance surveys and interacts with outside regulatory agencies.

11. Participates in monitoring and improving the facility's care through a quality assurance and performance improvement program that encourages self- evaluation, anticipates and plans for change, and meets regulatory requirements.

12. Organizes and coordinates physician services and services provided by other professionals as they relate to patient care.

13. Ensures adequate documentation of patient care and related information within physician services.

14. Helps the facility arrange for the availability of qualified medical consultative staff and oversees their performance

15. Reviews complex cases as needed, providing guidance on out of the ordinary diagnostic decisions or treatment plans; coordinates care with Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Security and all other services as indicated to optimize safety and quality of care; responsible for quality of care provided in the department and oversight of department's Quality Review Committee.

16. Participates in establishing policies and procedures for assuring that the rights of individuals (patients, staff members, and community members) are respected. The medical director helps the facility ensure that the ethical and legal rights of patients (including those who lack decision-making capacity, regardless of whether they have been deemed legally incompetent) are respected. This includes the right of patients to request practitioners to limit, withhold, or withdraw treatment(s).

17. Receives and reviews identified patient care concerns and ensures both resolution as well as appropriate, effective corrective actions are implemented.

18. Oversees professional conduct and practices of all psychiatric staff.

19. Participates with the health care facility in the development and implementation of mechanisms and measures to optimize the appropriate utilization of medical services, quality assurance and patient satisfaction at the health care facility.

20. Uses administrative time to participate, as requested, in organizational committees, task forces, etc. subject to availability and agreement with CMO/designee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

Required Education: Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

• Current, valid and unrestricted license to practice Psychiatry in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

• Valid DEA registration.

• Good standing in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

• Compliance with Specialty Board mandated education and training to maintain State licensure and board certification

Good standing with their health care facility's Medical Staff with appropriate privileges granted in accordance with the Medical Staff Bylaws.

Required Experience: Three years of management and leadership experience in the field of Psychiatry. Five years' experience as a practicing clinician or clinical leader and substantial experience in an administrative capacity in an accredited hospital or medical center.

Pay Range: $142.34 - $237.23 / Hour

The pay range for this position reflects the base pay scale for the role at Alameda Health System. Final compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to a candidate's experience, education, skills, licensure and certifications, departmental equity, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the operational needs of the organization. Alameda Health System also offers eligible positions a generous comprehensive benefits program.

Alameda Health System is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or military background.