Career Center

Summary

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

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 allopathic 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
• Licensure and Registration Licensure and Registration
• Physicians must possess a 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
• The Physician must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active - current licensure
• Waiver of Licensure
• Licensure requirements may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in the VHA Central Office for individuals in research - academic - or administrative assignments involving no direct patient care responsibilities in accordance with current regulations
• In addition - the Facility Director may waive this licensure requirement if the Physician is to serve in a country other than the United States and the Physician has licensure in that country
• (See VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 14 - on waiver of licensure provisions.) NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetence or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f))
• This requirement does not apply to licensed Physicians on VA rolls as of November 30 - 1999 - provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of state license - registration - or certification
• Loss of Credential
• Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment.HR Office staff must appoint Physicians according to the provisions in VA Handbook - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 14 - who have - or have ever had - their licensure revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status
• 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Board Certification
• Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA
• however - three circumstances in VA require Physician board certification: If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or Physician residents (including fellows) - the LCME - ACGME - or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply
• If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example - in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools) - then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position
• If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example - as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine) - then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply
• NOTE: Board certification must be maintained for the duration of time that the employee is serving in a position that meets the circumstances listed above
• English Language Proficiency
• Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Preferred Experience: Addiction Medicine Training with Addiction Medicine Certification is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Psychiatrists assigned to the Mental Health Service will provide care in various settings including Inpatient Psychiatry Unit - consultation to the Medical/Surgical Inpatient units and Emergency Room - Primary Care - Outpatient Programs - Opioid Treatment Program - and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP)
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• General duties include - but are not limited to: Psychiatrists' duties may involve several aspects of psychiatry and will focus on the evaluation and treatment of Veterans who suffer from a variety of mental health conditions including - but not limited to - post-traumatic stress disorder - anxiety - mood disorders - psychotic disorders - dementia - substance use disorders - and other related conditions
• Psychiatrists are responsible for assessing the patients' needs - developing a comprehensive collaborative care plan - and delivering high-quality evidence-based mental health care
• The psychiatrists are also responsible for documenting care provided in the agency's electronic medical record within the required timeframe
• Staff psychiatrists shall be responsible for inpatient - outpatient or residential care - graduate and undergraduate medical education - and scientific research - as appropriate
• Staff psychiatrists are ultimately responsible for all aspects of psychiatric care
• They will work within a mental health treatment team to evaluate - diagnose - treat and discharge co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder
• Staff psychiatrists will provide or assist residents - the advanced practice nurses and/or physician assistants in the process of evaluation and treatment of the psychiatric patient - and actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to psychiatric interventions
• Staff psychiatrists will evaluate the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status
• A progress note is written in the patient's electronic chart in a timely manner
• Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident and attending notes as appropriate
• The incumbent will participate in quality assurance - process improvement - peer review and other performance monitoring - as required - by the Chief of Service or his or her designee
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact visn10hredrpslrp@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