Medical Director

In brief:

I have had a very successful solo private practice in CA for 25+ years (I am 61), mostly working within the workers comp system. Due to changes in the CA workers comp law, the most recent "reform" having gone into effect 1/1/13, the system is falling apart and psychiatry has been largely cut out - so that 20 years with an excellent reputation and hundreds of referral sources is now of no use. The new law (restricting psychiatric disability awards) will likely reduce my practice in CA by 80-90%. I do not want to start over with private practice in San Diego - and my son is now living in NYC.

I had done hospital work early in my career but then spent 25 years exclusively doing outpatient work. However, having seen "the handwriting on the wall" I've been doing hospital locums over the past two years to "fill the gaps", including four months as the Interim Medical Director of Providence Hospital (Holyoke, MA), a 126-bed facility.

My preference would be CA or somewhere in or relatively close to NYC, but a "good fit" is more important than location. I am licensed in CA, MA, PA, NY and ND.

I am also involved in multiple non-clinical projects - working with the media, speaking, giving seminars, etc. I would be glad to forward my most up to date CV.

Right now, I'm pretty set through December 2013 and I have a provisional commitment for January, 2014.

Beyond January, nothing is settled, I am negotiating a couple of offers. I would consider full or part time, depending upon location, type of program, compensation, etc.

At this point in my career, and with my background and expertise, I prefer not to do solely "front line work" although I know other opportunities are few and far between.

I have worked with the "short term stabilization model" - including as Interim Medical Director, but I am not a fan of that model of treatment and I am not looking for any position as a "prescriber" who sees a patient for a few minutes and writes a script. Not every patient requires therapy, but I still do therapy when appropriate and I believe in knowing the patient as a person (not just a collection of symptoms to be medicated) and talking to patients.

I will not do corrections; I will not do ACT teams; I don't do child and adolescent (below 17). I can treat geriatrics on an adult unit but I am not a geriatric psychiatrist.

I won't see more than a maximum of 12 patients per day, preferably 8-10; 14 max under extraordinary circumstances.

I'm very open to administrative / teaching positions.

Due to needing time for my other endeavors, as well as basic comfort, I have no interest in doing night or weekend call as part of a position - unless it is administrative call (such as when I was interim medical director).

I know I will not earn anything like "the old days" but I do not like offers that are insulting considering my experience. I should not be earning the same amount as someone fresh out of a residency.

Having been very busy from my first weeks in private practice, I did not initially take the Boards. Then I became involved in the California Workers Compensation system which requires State certification as a Qualified Medical Examiner", which I have had for over 20 years, so 25 years, there was never a need for me to take the national boards. I am "Board Eligible" but far outside of five years since residency. I have no intention of taking the boards now - my 30-year perfectly "clean" record and my reputation speaks for itself.

Thanks!

Dave Reiss

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