Medical Director & Geriatric Adult IP Psychiatry

Join a team that shares your calling

At MultiCare, you’re more than just a job title - you’re part of a team built on trust that cares for each other, our patients and our communities. Belonging here means living our mission and values every day. If your purpose and passions align with ours, you’ll find a place to grow, do meaningful work and build a career you love in a community that feels like home.

MultiCare Health System is seeking an experienced, collaborative psychiatrist to join our Behavioral Health team as Medical Director of Adult and Geriatric Inpatient Psychiatry at Auburn Medical Center in Auburn, Washington. This unique opportunity combines 0.5 FTE of dedicated medical leadership with 0.5 FTE of clinical practice, providing care within our adult and geriatric inpatient psychiatric units, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

As Washington’s largest community-based, locally governed health system, MultiCare offers the resources and support of an integrated healthcare organization while empowering physicians to make a meaningful impact on patient care. This is an exceptional opportunity to help advance inpatient behavioral health services, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and maintain a rewarding clinical practice.

What We Have to Offer

• Competitive compensation with Medical Director leadership compensation
• Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous paid time off to support work-life balance
• CME allowance and professional development opportunities
• Retirement benefits and employer-sponsored retirement plans
• Malpractice insurance, including tail coverage
• Physician wellness resources and organizational support

Why Auburn, Washington?

Experience the best of the Pacific Northwest without sacrificing convenience or connection. Located between Seattle and Tacoma, Auburn offers an appealing balance of suburban living, outdoor recreation, and access to the amenities of the greater Puget Sound region.

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, residents enjoy scenic views of Mount Rainier, an extensive network of parks and trails, and convenient access to hiking, skiing, boating, and year-round outdoor adventures.

Whether you’re drawn to vibrant city experiences, welcoming residential communities, or weekends exploring the mountains and waterways of Washington, Auburn offers an excellent place to build both a career and a life. With no state personal income tax, Washington also offers an attractive financial advantage.

Why MultiCare?

At MultiCare, we’re committed to partnering for healing and a healthy future. As a not-for-profit healthcare system with a longstanding presence in the Pacific Northwest, we believe exceptional care begins with supporting the people who deliver it.

Our physicians benefit from collaborative teams, comprehensive resources, opportunities for professional growth, and an organization dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve.

Bring your leadership, expertise, and passion for behavioral health to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, where you can help shape the future of psychiatric care while continuing to make a difference in the lives of patients.

Connect With Us Interested in learning more about this opportunity? We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your clinical expertise and leadership experience can make an impact at MultiCare.

FTE: 1.0, Shift: Day, Schedule: M-F

Admin - 0.5 FTE Salary $185,120.00 based on 0.5 FTE

Clinical - 0.5 FTE Salary Min $145,833.50 - $156,600.00 max based on 0.5 FTE

For additional information, please contact kate.esvelt@multicare.org

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Position Summary

The Medical Director of Adult Inpatient Psychiatry ensures the quality and timeliness of psychiatric care provided to clients through the Behavioral Health Network’s Medical Services Inpatient Programs over a region(s) of care in compliance with all practice/agency standards, regulations, contracts and laws.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, high-quality psychiatric care for all inpatients.
• Oversee diagnosis, treatment planning, medication management, and discharge processes.
• Ensure adherence to evidence-based practices and risk management protocols (e.g., suicide precautions, restraints).
• Supervise psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and potentially other clinical team members.
• Support recruitment, hiring, credentialing, and privileging of medical staff.
• Conduct peer reviews, performance evaluations, and clinical supervision.
• Collaborate with nursing leadership to manage daily unit operations and ensure adequate medical coverage (on-call schedules, rounding protocols).
• Participate in or lead daily multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Help coordinate patient flow, including admissions, transfers, and discharges.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, state licensing).
• Maintain proper documentation, informed consent processes, and restraint/seclusion policies.
• Monitor medication use, including psychotropic prescribing practices.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives targeting patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction.
• Analyze trends in adverse events, readmissions, and incident reports. Including responding to sentinel events and oversee corrective action planning.
• Provide training and mentorship to medical staff, trainees, and residents if applicable. Promoting a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and management of budgets, staffing models, and program growth.
• Represent inpatient psychiatry in organizational meetings and initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate billing and reimbursement practices by medical team.
• Facilitate coordination with emergency departments, outpatient providers, and community services.
• Lead or support discharge planning, ensuring continuity of care post-discharge.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited medical school (MD or DO)
• Licensure to practice medicine in Washington State as a Physician
• Board certification in Psychiatry
• Minimum of five (5) years’ clinical experience following residency/fellowship, including providing direct patient care in the inpatient psychiatric setting
• Experience in a medical leadership role preferred
• Additional education in healthcare administration preferred

About Auburn Medical Center

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, serving South King County since 1921, is a 195-bed hospital with 58 behavioral health beds, a Family Birth Center, Level II NICU, Level III Trauma Center, MultiCare Regional Heart & Vascular Center, and advanced surgical services including robotic-assisted procedures. Clinicians at Auburn gain exposure to a diverse patient population and a broad spectrum of specialty care, all within a collaborative, high-performing team.

About the Auburn Community

Auburn is a vibrant suburb of 75,000, ideally located between Seattle, Tacoma and Mount Rainier. With 34 parks, over 23 miles of trails and abundant outdoor recreation from hiking and biking to camping and kayaking, Auburn is perfect for those who love an active lifestyle. The city also offers excellent schools, a growing dining scene and a welcoming community, making it a great place to live, work and play.

Why MultiCare?

Rooted in the local community

Partnering with patients, families and neighbors across the Pacific Northwest for more than 140 years.

Growth and education

Competitive tuition assistance, award-winning residencies, fellowships and career development to invest in you.

Well-being and support

Generous PTO, Code Lavender and Employee Assistance Programs to help you maintain balance and feel cared in your work and life.

Living our values

Respect, integrity, kindness and collaboration guide how we care for patients, communities and each other.

Belonging for all

Resource Groups and outreach programs help ensure every team member feels safe, seen, heard and valued.

Pacific Northwest lifestyle

Work and live where natural beauty, adventure and strong community connections are part of everyday life.

Pay and Benefit Expectations

We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position. The pay scale is $295,360.00 - $463,840.00 USD. However, pay is influenced by factors specific to applicants, including but not limited to: skill set, level of experience, and certification(s) and/or education. If this position is associated with a union contract, pay will be reflective of the appropriate step on the pay scale to which the applicant’s years of experience align.

Associated benefit information can be viewed here .