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. 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: Preferred Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Physician with additional fellowship training in Geriatrics. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position will require walking, standing or sitting for periods of up to 6-8 hours each day and delivering care, providing holistic are and case management in the home of the veteran. This may require excessing bending, lifting, twisting and driving in inclement weather. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The Home Based Primary Care Physician serves as the key clinical primary point of accountability for patients involving Geriatric and Extended Care services and collaborates with other providers and specialists in and outside of the VA system to manage patients' health. As a staff physician in our HBPC program, you will be required to drive a government vehicle to provide comprehensive medical care to older adult patients in their homes. Clinical Duties include the following: Visiting the HBPC patients at home for medical evaluation and treatment. Most visits occur in the Veteran's home but can also utilize VA approved telemedicine platforms when clinically appropriate. Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome measures of healthcare issues, histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consults and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies for patients at home. Highlight Age-Friendly Health System approaches to care in your treatment of HBPC Veterans with emphasis on What Matters Most, Medications, Mentation/Mood, and Mobility/Falls. Demonstrate expertise in the areas of adult primary care and management of chronic medical conditions. Communicate and consult regularly with other providers in primary and specialty care to assist in the care of geriatric patients as needed. Perform evidence-based practices to enhance symptom management of palliative care patients. Facilitate education and clarification of the patient and family regarding goals of care. Consult with members of the Interdisciplinary care team to establish a written plan of care. Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings weekly to review patients and discuss their plan of care and current active issues. Plan and direct the educational and clinical experience of trainees such as medical students, residents, and fellows assigned to the HBPC Program. Assist with development and updates of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to meet the evolving needs of the HBPC Program and adherence to Joint Commission changes in policy and their updated areas of focus (Annual National Safety Goals for Home Care). Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of HBPC's process for continuous performance improvement and to help maintain a state of readiness for Joint Commission Accreditation surveys. HBPC Physician will lead at least one workgroup and will offer their input and clinical expertise within other performance improvement workgroups. Facilitate academic activities to supervise/teach (didactics) geriatrics fellows, medical residents, nurse practitioners, and trainees in other health-related disciplines. Implement strategic care plan to appropriately facilitate utilization and access to quality-of-life services. Monitor quality and service metrics across the continuum of care to ensure departmental goals are achieved. Provide education of staff. Review and approve certain aspects of non-VA community care. Provide backup for the HBPC Medical Director and other HBPC physicians. Responsible for meeting home care accreditation standards, including, but not limited to VHA and the Joint Commission standards for home care, for ensuring that the primary care services provided. Serve in a leadership role in the ongoing development and implementation of HBPC, palliative care and geriatric services. Be readily available to the team members for collaboration when clinical or program issues arise. Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or 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"]
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.
