3/16/77 A

Performs highly responsible professional work requiring the services of a qualified medical specialist in care, treatment, and rehabilitation of the physically or mentally disabled or serves as a consultant in a specialized medical program or research project or supervises the general mental and medical or surgical care provided in the State operated mental hospitals, training centers or mental health clinics. Reviews the progress of all clients, giving particular attention to the more complicated cases. May serve as a clinician in clinics and programs dealing with a specific medical specialty and reviews diagnoses and treatment prescriptions of lower level physicians and approves changes in the general treatment and therapy pattern for clients. Advises lower level physicians on the peculiar nature of diseases and disorders in a particular specialty relating the specific nature of the disorder and expectations of specific treatment modes. Work is performed independently but general supervision is received from higher level medical staff or administrators if function is primarily administrative.

Examples of duties characteristic of positions in this class:

1. Participates in setting standards, policies, and development of specialty treatment programs and assigns clients to positions of lower rank.

2. Serves as consultant to make critical evaluations of data developed by physicians nurses, psychologists, and other related professional personnel.

3. Observes clients and advises lower level physicians on the treatment and therapy prescribed in special cases, demonstrating and discussing in detail specific modes of treatment to lower level physicians.

4. Participates in appropriate educational programs and promotional activities and confers and corresponds with friends of clients, especially when difficulties are encountered by physicians of lower rank.

5. Reviews case histories of patients to be presented at staff conferences by subordinates physicians and orders tests and observations if necessary and reviews plans for medical care and its improvement.

6. Makes assignments to instruction reviews, performance of lower level physicians and other paraprofessional personnel. Performing specialized medical and/or psychiatric treatment and supervises the administration operation of a unit ascertaining that all appropriate records are prepared and maintained.

7. Offers advice and assistance in the development of grant applications and confers with hospital administrators and medical and nursing staff on the improvement of facilities, services, and techniques and programs, and performs other related work as required.

 

Graduation from a recognized medical college. With at least one year post graduate training in an approved residency program or a minimum of three years of experience working in a specific medical specialty including family practice, and a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or eligibility therefore.

Considerable knowledge of the causes and methods and diagnostic treatment and therapy of mental and physical diseases and disorders, considerable knowledge of the therapy and principles of modern practices of general medicine and the ability to diagnose and prescribe for most clients of a mental hospital, training center, or community mental health clinic.