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
• Additional Requirement: Board Certified or Board Eligible Psychiatry
• Preferred Experience: Substance use treatment experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday 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 Harm Reduction Coordinator (HRC)/substance use disorder (SUD) Psychiatrist is aligned under the Chief of Psychiatry and is a bargaining unit employee
• HRC/SUD Psychiatrist provides care in accordance with the VA goals of high-quality, Veteran-centered healthcare that embraces the recovery model
• Incumbent evaluates Veterans' mental health symptoms, including SUD and other addictions, and provides diagnostic evaluation, medication initiations, ongoing medication follow up, monitoring of responses to medication trials, and provide mental health interventions as needed
• They can also conduct lethality assessments, determining appropriateness of medication trials, supportive counseling, further assessment, and follow up
• Additionally, they take inpatient call ass assigned
• HRC/SUD Psychiatrist functions in a collaborative fashion with behavioral health team members, other departments, and medical staff members to provide primary SUD behavioral health services
• The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Clinical: Provides direct patient care within the SUD section (outpatient, inpatient, or residential) within behavioral health services
• Maintains competency in all aspects of psychiatric care
• Maintains currency in medication management, including adverse reactions and their appropriate treatments
• Uses appropriate documentation to record patients' medical history and all aspects of the patients' Psychiatric course of treatment
• Administration: Serves as the physician point of contact and facility SME on harm reduction interventions
• Develops a facility level syringe services program (SSP) and fentanyl test strip distribution system
• Evaluates SSP outcomes, implementation strategies, and lessons learned for further program improvement
• Uses data dashboards to identify harm reduction opportunities
• Champions implementation of low barrier buprenorphine initiation and infectious disease testing
• Works with local colleagues to improve sexual and drug use history taking and linkage to appropriate harm reduction services
• Consults with Office of General Counsel (OGC) to determine if any SSP services/supplies are legally prohibited
• Collaborates with the national VA Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/SSP Affinity Group and with local and national community harm reduction organizations for program improvement.