Psychiatric Physician Assistant

ERC Pathlight; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ERC Pathlight is seeking a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to deliver psychiatric health care under physician supervision, while collaborating with a team of clinicians and support staff. The role emphasizes high-quality, cost-effective care and active involvement in care planning.

The position focuses on evaluating patients, managing treatment plans, documenting thoroughly, and supporting an organized clinical environment across multiple levels of care.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates and monitors the psychiatric condition of patients in collaboration with physicians and other care providers.
• Determines and assesses health status of new or existing patients by reviewing records and performing examinations.
• Develops and helps implement patient care plans and treatment decisions.
• Completes required documentation thoroughly and maintains charts and records.
• Orders medications within statutory limits and initiates appropriate screenings and assessments.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams to improve patient care and program efficiency.
• Advocates for patients and participates in insurance peer reviews to optimize length of stay.
• Administrative duties may include protocol development, scheduling, and project work to support care delivery.
• Attends staff meetings and contributes clinical expertise to improve programs and policies.
• Maintains safety, quality improvement, and infection control standards.

Job description

Who We Are

At ERC Pathlight, we're on a mission to change lives-and we're looking for people who feel called to do the same.

As one of the nation's leading treatment providers for eating disorders and mood, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, we bring innovative, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate care to patients across the country. With multiple locations nationwide and extensive virtual programming, we meet patients exactly where they are and help them move toward lasting recovery.

Founded in 2008 by renowned psychiatrists and psychologists, ERC Pathlight now supports more than 6,000 patients each year. And as the need for world-class mental health care continues to rise, our commitment is stronger than ever: to expand access, elevate the standard of care, and empower every patient to rebuild their life with dignity and hope.

Why Join Us

When you join ERC Pathlight, you become part of a team that shows up every day to make a real difference. You'll work alongside passionate clinicians, dedicated support staff, and mission-driven leaders who believe in collaboration, growth, and doing the right thing-always.

Here, your work matters. Your ideas matter. You matter.

If you're energized by purpose, motivated by impact, and ready to help transform the future of mental health treatment, you belong here.

Come build hope. Come save lives. Come grow with us.

What You'll Be Doing

Under the supervision of a credentialed physician, the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is responsible for delivering psychiatric healthcare to patients. Operates with latitude and collaborates with other health professionals to provide high quality, cost effective psychiatric health care to patients, manage healthcare systems, and influence healthcare decision-making through expert clinical reasoning research and theory-based practice.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Evaluates and monitors the psychiatric condition of patients in collaboration with physicians and other care providers. Adhering to established standards of care or applying appropriate protocols, makes decisions regarding treatment.

Determines and assesses the health status of new or existing patients by reviewing records, taking comprehensive psychiatric and medical histories, and performing patient examinations.

Analyzes present patient care and the responses to the present care, and helps to develop the patient care plan and treatment.

Completes required documentation thoroughly and in a timely manner. Prepares and maintains complete and accurate charts, case files and records.

Orders appropriate medications within the limits of the appropriate statutory limitations. Initiates, performs or directs other nurses to perform screenings and orders psychological assessments when appropriate.

• 1) including staff, physicians, other providers and management in both service and patient care improvements
• 2) treating all teammates with respect
• 3) demonstrating the highest levels of ethical and professional conduct
• 4) behaving in a manner consistent with company mission and values
• 5) establishing and maintaining contact with referring providers both within that outside of the system
• 6) establishing and maintaining contact with family members and patient's support persons when appropriate

Advocates for patients including providing consistent and timely documentation regarding the patient's need for level of care and participating in insurance peer reviews to optimize optimal length of stay for treatment.

Administrative Duties

May be assigned to perform leadwork and/or involvement in clinical coordination, responsibility for special projects which may encompass protocol development, management planning, scheduling and other tasks as necessary to support practice environment in the different levels of care

Functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. Attends staff meetings to present and discuss clinical concerns. Utilizes the principles and practices of effective and persuasive communication to elicit information, contribute psychiatric expertise, problem resolution, and/or garner support for various programs or policies.

• 1) focusing on clinically relevant outcome measures
• 2) adapting company innovations to continuously improve patient care, program, and organizational efficiency

Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, quality improvement, safety, environmental and infection control standards.

Promotes positive interpersonal relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors. Treats these individuals with courtesy, dignity, empathy and respect; consistently displays courteous and respectful verbal and non-verbal communications.

Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, receiving current literature, and attending in-service meetings, staff meetings and workshops. Attends,