Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine
• The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
• (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR[(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR(3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: APBN Board certified/eligible Preferred Experience: Familiarity with Suicide Prevention and Crisis Mental Health Care
• Experience working with PTSD - Substance Use Disorders - and Co-occurring mental health disorders
• Able to work within an interdisciplinary team (medical providers - psychiatrists - nursing staff - case managers)
• Specialty training in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBP)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of walking - standing - and sitting
• some light lifting - reaching overhead - bending - stooping - and work in front of a computer
• This position requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in a health care setting with adequate lighting - heating and cooling
• Work may involve exposure to infection and possible contagious diseases
• Standard precautions and isolation techniques will be employed as indicated
• There may be occasion where response to physical and/or verbal abuse by patients requires knowledge gained from ongoing violence in the workplace training.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized
• Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact linda.orchard@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
• CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
• Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov
• Duties include: Evaluate - diagnose - treat - and provide consultation to adult patients - presenting with mental - behavioral - addictive or emotional disorders - e.g. - psychoses - depression - anxiety disorders - substance abuse disorders - developmental disabilities - sexual dysfunctions - adjustment disorders or any other diagnosis reflected in the DSM 5
• Ordering of diagnostic - laboratory tests - and prescribing medications
• Including the gathering of history and performance of physical exams - and care to patients in the inpatient care setting - in conformance with unit policies
• Assess - stabilize - and determine disposition of patients with emergent conditions consistent with medical staff policy regarding emergency and consultative call services
• Develop and implement treatment plans plus informing patients of risks - benefits - and alternative treatments and answering all questions
• Consult with providers in other disciplines
• Hospital admissions and discharges
• Evaluation - Prescription - and Medication Management
• Psychotherapy - Individual and Group Psychotherapy
• Marital and Family Psychotherapy
• Crisis intervention and referral to appropriate treatment setting
• Telepsychiatry Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc