Trainee Functional Neurosurgery Jobs in California

Default Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Hours:

40

Salary range:

$60.58 - $92.01

Schedule:

Full Time

Shift Hours:

8 Hour employee

Department:

Behavioral Health (Rancho Mirage)

Job Objective:

Serves as the clinical lead for the neuropsychological assessment service line within Eisenhower Health's outpatient behavioral health program. In addition to providing expert diagnostic services for complex cases, is responsible for the operational oversight of the testing program, including the development of standardized test batteries, compliance with test security protocols, and the clinical supervision of psychometrists (technicians) and trainees. Acts as a primary consultant to neurology, neurosurgery, and primary care, integrating data to inform diagnoses of neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's, Lewy Body Dementia), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and complex psychiatric presentations.

Job Description:

Education:

Required: Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Education in Psychology (EdD)

Preferred: Completion of a formal two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology

Licensure/Certification:

Required: Psychologist license by the California Board of Psychology; Workplace Violence and Response Training Class will be completed during program orientation; 5150 Certification Training within three (3) months of hire

Preferred: Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology (ABPP/ABCN) or active candidacy with eligibility to sit for the oral examination

Experience:

Required: Five (5) years of mental health experience in individual, group, and family psychotherapy with a minimum of two (2) years in diagnosis of dementias (e.g. Alzheimer's), movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson's, Huntington's), and stroke rehabilitation

Preferred: Experience supervising psychometrists or trainees; experience in clinical education for varying trainees in mental health, including medical residents and psychology interns; experience in crisis intervention and clinical education for varying trainees in mental health

Reports To: Clinical Manager, Director or Chief Administrative Officer
Supervises: N/A
Ages of Patients: Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric
Blood Borne Pathogens: Minimal/ No Potential

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

Ability to communicate with patients, healthcare professionals, and staff to ensure clear and accurate exchange of information, Ability to deal concretely and psychologically with a variety of crisis, Ability to listen, interact and communicate with a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic classes, Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently to meet deadlines, Expertise in current CPT billing codes for neuropsychological testing and the specific documentation requirements for "evaluation" vs. "administration" services, Knowledge of area resources and ability to utilize internet for resource search, Strong knowledge of brain-behavior relationships and neuroanatomy, Understanding and experience with the 5150 Designation process, Well-developed psychosocial assessment and intervention skills

Essential Responsibilities

1. Protocol Design: Lead the design and maintenance of a comprehensive testing library, selecting evidence-based instruments for geriatric, adult, and adolescent populations (e.g., WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, D-KEFS, RBANS)

2. Workflow Optimization: Develop and refine clinical workflows to ensure efficient "throughput" of referrals, ensuring compliance with CPT coding guidelines for evaluation (96132/96133) and test administration (96136-96139)

3. Digital Integration: Oversee the implementation and management of digital assessment platforms (e.g., Q-interactive, Creyos) to enhance diagnostic precision and scoring efficiency.

4. Complex Evaluations: Conduct high-complexity neuropsychological evaluations to differentiate between organic brain dysfunction and functional/psychiatric disorders, specifically for cases involving diagnostic ambiguity.

5. Capacity Evaluations: Perform evaluations to determine decision-making capacity and independent living needs for vulnerable geriatric populations.

6. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Provide actionable feedback to the interdisciplinary team regarding medication management, rehabilitation potential, and discharge planning.

7. Psychiatry Residency Education: Actively participate in the Graduate Medical Education (GME) mission by providing clinical supervision and didactic instruction to Psychiatry Residents. Responsibilities include teaching residents how to identify appropriate indications for neuropsychological referral, how to interpret cognitive testing results within a psychiatric context, and understanding brain-behavior relationships.

8. Technical Supervision: Provide direct clinical supervision to psychometrists (neuropsychology technicians), ensuring strict adherence to standardized administration and scoring procedures as required for billing under general supervision standards.

9. Trainee Development: Serve as the primary supervisor for future pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral fellows, fostering clinical competency in psychometrics, clinical conceptualization, and report writing.

10. Test Security: Maintain rigorous test security protocols to protect raw data and assessment materials in accordance with AACN and APA ethical standards.

11. Performance Validity: Ensure the routine integration of performance validity tests (PVTs) and symptom validity tests (SVTs) into all batteries to verify the credibility of test results.