Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrists (RMOP) Job Listing at U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC (Job ID 2787933-2024-05-01)

Description

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) in the Department of State safeguards and promotes the health and well-being of American's diplomatic community, which consists of employees and their accompanying family members who represent United States government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Medical Officers (RMOs), Psychiatrists (RMOPs), Medical Providers (MPs), and Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS) to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.

A Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrist (RMOP) works either independently or as a member of a team of FS Medical Specialists to provide medical support for USG employees and their Eligible Family Members (EFMs).

An RMOP is considered "essential personnel" and is expected to be available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. RMOP duties include but are not limited to:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Administers mental health care to American embassy personnel, their spouses and children.
• Helps employees and family members, including children, with adjustment to lifestyle and culture.
• Provide basic child/adolescent outpatient care (percentage of child/adolescent care is dependent on post).
• Performs telephone and telehealth video consultations.
• Arranges 24-hour care.
• Responds to crises at the home post or regional posts.
• Advises on mental health prevention strategies.
• Maintains an awareness regarding alcohol and drug abuse at post and provides educational and treatment services.
• Renders clinical consultations and responds to allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, and child neglect.
• Provides consultation to other medical staff.
• Establishes mental health wellness programs.
• Teaches mental health crisis management.
• Trains locally hired nurses and health unit staff on screening for psychiatric conditions and stress management.
• Assesses morale at overseas embassies and consulates.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Communicates regularly with mission community.
• Maintains medical record documentation on clinical patient care.
• Uses other computer software to provide services.
• Evaluates local mental health care providers and mental health facilities at posts overseas.
• Evaluates the availability of local psychiatric medications.
• Maintains or advises on Health Unit (HU) inventory of medications and oversees controlled substances.
• Creates satisfaction surveys.
• Assures personal continuing medical education.

Embassy or State Department Specific Responsibilities

• Performs regional travel.
• Works with non-department of state agencies.
• Arranges medical evacuations.
• Assists consular corps.
• Liaises with other RMOPs.
• Ensures emergency preparedness.
• Advises ambassador.
• Consults at the American (or international) schools.
• Deals with problems in the embassy workplace.
• Evaluates medical clearances.
• Deals with local health care officials.
• Communicates with medical headquarters in Washington.

Conditions for Employment

• Be a U.S. citizen and available for worldwide service.*
• Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Be able to meet the appropriate Foreign Service Minimum Medical Qualifications.
• Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
• Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
• Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans accepted).***

Requirements

• Candidates must be able to obtain andmaintain national security eligibility.
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from a university in the U.S. or Canada that was approved by a recognized U.S. accrediting body in the year of the applicant's graduation; or
• MD or DO or equivalent degree from a foreign school that provided educational and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the U.S. This equivalency may be demonstrated by either permanent certification of the applicant's school by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or a Fifth Pathway Certificate.
• Applicants must have a current, valid, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Applications will not be accepted from psychiatrists who are not licensed. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) must certify applicants in psychiatry. American Board certification and re-certification, state medical licensure, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Applicants must have a current board certification by the ABPN and have a minimum of three years post-residency clinical experience within the past eight years, in adult or child/adolescent psychiatry with at least 50% of the applicant's time involved in direct patient care during the last three years.