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. 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. Preferred Experience: Board certification Two years of Primary Care/Family Medicine experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Function Requirements Light lifting, under 15 pounds. Light Carrying, under 15 pounds. Use of fingers. Both hands required. Walking, one half hour. Standing, one half hour. Kneeling, one half hour. Repeated bending, one half hour. Both legs required. Environmental Factors Working alone Working closely with others. ["This is an Open Continuous Announcement and will remain open through November 29, 2024, or until the position is filled. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Once a selection is made and offer is accepted the announcement will close pending no additional vacancies. The physician will be responsible for delivery of primary care to patients enrolled in the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS). The provider will manage scheduled and unscheduled patients in a clinic setting at the medical center. The focus of this position is on the provision of primary care service to veterans, typically between 18 and 70 years of age, enrolled in the Health Care System. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be approved for highly qualified applicant Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact april.hightower1@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 Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Physician will be responsible for providing primary care for patients with the new VA care delivery system, Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACT). This model of care incorporates a patient-centered approach focusing on access to care, care managers, collaboration amongst specialties and other services (including nursing and clerical staff), and alternative means of care (tele-health, nursing visits, shared medical appointments, etc.). The incumbent serves as a Primary Care Physician in outpatient primary care clinics providing appropriate care for Veterans ranging in age from 18 through geriatric years, taking into consideration diagnosis and physical, functional, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs. The incumbent serves as a provider who is highly skilled in the management of a patient's primary care needs and evaluation of need for subspecialty referral. The incumbent is responsible to contribute to the achievements of quality-of-care standards, efficiency, process improvement, and patient satisfaction. The incumbent writes orders for diagnostic testing, prescribed medications, and consultation to specialty services utilizing computer-keyboarding techniques. The incumbent is expected to practice in accordance with professional standards, core values and with a commitment to service excellence. Physician will serve as a resource for Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants who are also delivering primary care and responds to all staff in the primary care teams in regard to patient concerns. Duties include, but are not limited to: Assesses the needs of and plans intervention for individuals/families. Facilitates the delivery of primary, acute and chronic health care. Assists individuals/families achieve optimal levels of health through collaboration with medical and health care professionals. Exercises medical decision-making and provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for a specific group of patients. Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and findings from research and/or studies. Involved in direct patient care, patient and family teaching, staff education and multidisciplinary consultations and collaborations. Participates in education of PA students, NP, Residents, Medical Students, interns Supervise mid-level practitioners as assigned. Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill multi-symptomatic patients. Serves as a resource person for standards development in health care in the area of quality improvement concerns. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4PM or 8 AM-4:30 PM, with the occasional Saturday."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
