Physician (Interventional Physiatrist) - Pain Management (Huntington)

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) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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.
• Medical degree (Doctor of Medicine or equivalent) from a school approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year of completion.
• Full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. Accepted formats include ACGME or AOA accredited residencies, one year of post‑medical‑school training followed by two years of independent practice, or non‑U.S. residency training with at least three years of verified independent practice in the U.S.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Physical ability to stand, lift, carry, sit, stoop, bend, pull, and push as required by the position. May require wearing personal protective equipment and undergoing annual TB screening.
• Physicians who are current residents in ACGME/AOA accredited programs and who otherwise meet the basic requirements may be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs) on an intermittent basis with scope of practice limits.

Preferred Experience

• Completion of a PM&R or Anesthesiology residency in the United States and at least one year of fellowship in interventional pain management or an equivalent specialty such as spine medicine or musculoskeletal medicine.

Physical Requirements

• Typical physical demands of the occupation, including standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive medical and functional evaluations for Veterans referred to the Pain Clinic, including history, physical examination, and review of diagnostic studies.
• Establish accurate pain diagnoses and comorbidities and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized, integrated treatment plans emphasizing functional restoration and self‑management.
• Perform interventional pain procedures (e.g., fluoroscopy‑guided injections, radiofrequency ablations, joint injections, spinal cord stimulator trials, intrathecal pump refills).
• Provide inpatient chronic pain consultative services for hospitalized Veterans.
• Manage medication regimens for chronic pain, focusing on polypharmacy reduction, opioid risk stratification, and utilization of non‑opioid analgesics and adjuvant medications.
• Adjust opioid medications, including tapering, in compliance with VA/DOD Long‑term Opioid Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines and local VA policies.
• Order, review, and analyze laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic studies to optimize the pain care plan.
• Follow‑up with Veterans regarding results, discuss care plans, therapy changes, and additional monitoring or testing requirements per VHA standards.
• Collaborate clinically with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Complete all required electronic health record documentation in accordance with VHA standards, ensuring timely and accurate entries for pain management activities, therapeutic changes, recommendations, procedures, and patient check‑out.
• Ensure compliance with national and local performance measures, including prompt health screenings and completion of clinical reminders.
• Participate in program development activities, including data collection/management, policy development, and documentation as directed by section and service leadership.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, pain committee meetings, intra‑ and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and projects as requested.
• Provide didactics and lectures to medical staff on pain‑focused interventions.
• Work schedule: Full time, Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.