Physician - Primary Care

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 EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are 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
• 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
• Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accreditation 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
• 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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: The candidate must have at least 3 years of non-VA Primary Care experience or 1 year of VA Primary Care experience
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting – 15‑44 lbs; light lifting – under 15 lbs; moderate carrying – 15‑44 lbs; reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; both hands required; walking 6‑8 hours; standing 6‑8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted) min 15/20 one ear and mental and emotional stability required.

Preferred Experience

Board Eligible / Board Certified. For more information on this qualification standard – please visit

Duties

• The incumbent works as a member of a primary care team consisting of clerical staff – nurses – physicians – social workers – and clinical pharmacists
• The incumbent provides or coordinates all aspects of the patient's care including preventive – urgent – and routine care including women's healthcare
• The Physician provides effective care to patients characterized by using sound judgment in assessing – planning – implementing – documenting and evaluating patient care for assigned patients
• Primary Care is comprehensive – continuous – and covers preventative and psycho-social aspects of patient management
• The incumbent must meet access – quality – efficiency – satisfaction – and other standards of performance established by the Veterans Health Administration
• The incumbent provides medical histories and performs comprehensive physical examinations (H and P's) – orders appropriate diagnostic studies – interprets and analyzes medical data – establishes diagnoses – formulates and implements treatment plans – and modifies treatment plans
• Orders subspecialty consults – tests – prosthetic requests – completes forms on veterans' behalf that are within the treatment purview of the incumbent – and performs other clinical duties as directed and deemed by the Service Chief to be appropriate and in the interest of the Veteran
• The incumbent references quality improvement information and organizes patient care needs to assure safe – efficient – and cost-effective care and initiates effective actions in emergencies
• The delivery of care may be in person – by VVC – or via telephone – and the incumbent will actively participate in the provision of telemedicine care to outlying communities as well as occasional travel to other VA clinics to provide clinical coverage
• The candidate must be willing to: treat opiate use disorder with buprenorphine therapy (training available) in consultation with Behavioral Health; treat Geriatric Primary Care patients and is encouraged to apply for implementation of a Geriatric Primary Care panel (encouraged but not required); engage in Women's Health treatment – hypertension management – and diabetes management; treat opiate use disorder with buprenorphine therapy (with training available) in consultation with Behavioral Health; support residency training of affiliated medical universities and programs
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): is 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
• 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‑year 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
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday – 8am to 4:30pm