C/L Psychologist Position, Trauma Specialty at Cooper University Health Care

Cooper University Hospital is located in Camden, NJ directly across the river from Philadelphia, PA. We are part of a health system that has over 100 medical clinics and urgent care centers and a medical school (CMSRU). We serve the Camden urban area as well as the suburban areas surrounding the city. We are the only adult Level I trauma center in southern NJ serving a population of two million. We also have a pediatric II trauma center, affording us the opportunity to offer care to families within one setting.

The Trauma Center at Cooper University Hospital was established in 1982 and is one of only three New Jersey State-Designated adult Level I Trauma Centers verified by the American College of Surgeons; the highest national recognition possible. Cooper serves as the regional Trauma Center for southern New Jersey including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Ocean and Salem counties and acts as a resource for the Level II Trauma Centers in our region. A Level I Trauma Center cares for severely injured patients involved in motor vehicle crashes, falls, industrial accidents and acts of violence. Specially trained physicians and surgeons focus on the care of the trauma patient. On average, Cooper admits nearly 3,900 trauma patients each year, making it the busiest center in New Jersey. Within Cooper Hospital there are multiple trauma units including: Trauma Admitting, the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Step-Down Unit and the Trauma patient floor.

For additional information:

https://www.cooperhealth.org/services/level-1-trauma-center

https://www.cooperhealth.org/services/behavioral-medicine

https://www.cooperhealth.edu/allied-health/behavioral-medicine

Primary Role:

The Psychologist chosen for this position will provide psychological consultation and psychotherapeutic intervention for pediatric and adult patients and their families within the Trauma Department with focus on assessment of trauma symptoms for our patients. Psychologist will create a program to assess patients and provide evidence-based brief interventions (CBT, ACT and mindfulness-skills) with patients and family members who present with Acute Stress and Trauma symptoms as well as psychiatric distress and/or end-of-life concerns related to their medical injuries. Work in collaboration with, and provide consultation to, a multidisciplinary Trauma Medicine/Surgical teams. Participate in daily operations of the behavioral medicine and trauma departments; collaboratively work to maximize disposition efficiency for patients with psychological diagnosis; ensure intradepartmental mental health care is practiced in accordance with best medical practice for psychiatric challenges; design and pilot research protocols and programs in order to contribute to the trauma psychology services literature. Collaborate with Psychiatry CL and TN team regularly to ensure patient needs are met. Ensure mental health procedures meet JCAHO/CMS credentialing requirements and best care practices are followed, which includes providing any needed ongoing education and training for emergency department personnel.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Develops meaningful and effective relationships with leadership and frontline physicians, APP’s, RN’s, residents and students. Engages in regular direct communication with staff, patients and their families

Provides patient risk assessment and recommendations for the Trauma team

Provides consultation as well as liaison services throughout the Trauma floors. Support consults driven by different pediatric and adult screening protocols to meet clinical needs and ACS verification requirements.
Program development to capture psychological assessment or trauma patients and plan for OP follow-up and referrals if necessary.
Identifies gaps in psychological programming then recommends and implements solutions.
Serves as a liaison across the Trauma floors. Develops and maintains referral relationships, working with TN team to coordinate with community-based behavioral health providers to assist in timely psychological and psychiatric support for patients needing referrals.
Provides consultative support to caregivers seeking referral to appropriate behavioral health providers, including education about most efficient and effective use of behavioral health resources.
Develops original presentations and trainings for Trauma team as needed to cover areas such as stress management, self-care and provider wellness
Participates in alternating didactics and group supervision with Behavioral Medicine team
Participates in on-going Behavioral Medicine and/or Trauma research; initiation of new projects, works toward procurement of internal and external grant-funding; participation in professional presentation at national conferences; works toward publication of Behavioral Medicine and Trauma research.
Represents Cooper locally, regionally, and nationally at conferences-presenting emergency. Works collaboratively with other institutions to share best practices and program strategies. Oversees data collection and maintains database. Submit publications to peer reviewed journals in collaboration with the Division of Behavioral Medicine
Provides secondary supervision for Behavioral Medicine externs, interns and Post-Doctoral Fellows as applicable across CL patients in the hospital.
Ensures completion of requirements and initiate process and maintain title for Professorship at Cooper Medical School at Rowan University
Understanding of billing practices and use of appropriate CPT codes to bill to the top of one’s license, leading to expected productivity
Consent and enroll patients in the Hospital Violence Intervention Program, as needed.

Education, Experience and Special Requirements:

Psy.D./Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; Specialization in Health and/or Neuropsychology favored

Must be licensed in New Jersey (license eligible will be considered)
Strong team player, desire to ensure that the behavioral medicine team is successful across all areas of education, training and clinical work
Flexibility and adaptability in day-to-day organization and management
Experience working in an acute hospital setting
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to work independently and exercise sound clinical judgment
Ability to work in cooperation with multidisciplinary medical teams

Please send CV and Cover Letter to Kelly Gilrain, PhD – Gilrain-kelly@cooperhealth.edu