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 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: Continuing Medical Education (CME) related to psychiatry is required, Board certification is preferred, Buprenorphine prescribing is preferred, Enrollment in the VHA Clozapine Registry is preferred, Ability to use telemental health equipment is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Work Schedule: Full-time, compressed tour available with supervisory approval
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly qualified candidate
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): May be eligible
• Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 include but not limited to the following: Screen, evaluate, and admit or enroll patient to psychiatry programs
• Key psychiatric functions include a full spectrum of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services provided by qualified interdisciplinary staff in a safe and dignified setting with emphasis on least restrictive approach
• These include but are not limited to: individual psychotherapy
• crisis intervention
• psycho-pharmacotherapy
• consultation/liaison
• patient education
• Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms, (EKGs), etc
• including HIV tests and evaluate results of such tests
• Provide psychiatric on-call coverage
• Provide psychiatric Consultation-Liaison coverage, as assigned
• Conducting complete psychiatric evaluations (including the mental status evaluation)
• Prescribe appropriate pharmaceutical agents for smoking cessation
• Prescribe Buprenorphine
• (If applicable) Prescribe Clozapine
• (If applicable) Prescribe evidenced based pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders Initiate and refill prescriptions for all medications
• Monitor and record patient progress
• Obtain consent for hospitalization, tests, & medications
• Carry out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making
• Provide education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and medications
• Write orders and notes in CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System)
• Administer and document Suicide Risk Assessment in CPRS
• Perform other delegated tasks not specifically outlined herein upon the direction of supervising chiefs
• Provide telephone consultation with patients and family members
• Function as member of assigned committees, task forces, and investigative teams
• Teach and supervise medical students, PA students, psychiatry (and as needed, residents from other specialties) residents and fellows, and NP students
• Modality of care may include telehealth from a VA owned/leased facility or telehealth from the provider's home directly into the Veteran's home
• (Contingent on approval of Chief of Psychiatry)
• Position may work with the Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program (MHICM) and provide psychopharmacological services as required.