Urgent Care Physician

Summary

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is seeking a dedicated and highly skilled Urgent Care Physician (UCP) to join our growing Urgent Care team. The UCP provides comprehensive, high-quality urgent clinical care to Veterans while contributing to departmental leadership, systems redesign initiatives, and collaborative interdisciplinary work. This position supports the mission of the Veterans Health Administration by ensuring exceptional, timely, Veteran-centered care across all BCVAMC sites.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

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

ACLS and BLS certifications are required.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Duties

- Independently evaluate and manage Veterans presenting to Urgent Care.

- Perform comprehensive history, physical examinations, diagnostic evaluations, and clinical decision-making.

- Treat and stabilize emergent and acute conditions such as myocardial infarction, chest pain, CHF, stroke, seizures, altered mental status, dyspnea, COPD exacerbations, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, COVID-19, pain syndromes, UTI, fractures, musculoskeletal injuries, lacerations, and minor trauma.

- Order, interpret, and act upon diagnostic tests including labs, EKGs, x-rays, and review radiologist-interpreted CT/MRI/ultrasound studies.

- Determine appropriateness of transfer to community hospitals for higher-level care.

- Provide consultative support to Primary Care clinicians for acute and urgent medical concerns.

- Collaborate with In-Patient Mental Health medical APPs on chronic disease management, acute illness, rounding, documentation review, and clinical oversight.

- Provide medical emergency support across all BCVAMC physical locations when assigned as Medical Officer of the Day (MOD).

- Provide clinical oversight and participate in peer review activities.

- Collaborate with Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Supervise Resident Physicians as assigned.

- Maintain timely, accurate encounters, notes, and reports in accordance with policy.

- On-site presence is required; telework is not authorized.

Quality of Care

- Maintain professional competence through FPPE, OPPE, credentialing, privileging, and quality improvement activities.

- Deliver care aligned with Joint Commission and VHA standards.

- Support Performance Improvement and Quality Management initiatives.

- Stay current on clinical trends, evidence-based practices, and specialty-specific protocols; serve as a resource to clinical staff.

Administrative Duties

- Participate in quality improvement activities and systems redesign projects.

- Attend monthly staff meetings and other medical center committees as assigned.

- Contribute to departmental process improvements and operational planning.

- Participate in disaster/surge event backup call schedules; rare overnight coverage may be required.

Education and Research

- Maintain professional development through continuing education and independent learning.

- Participate in clinical research programs when appropriate.

- Supervise medical trainees assigned to Urgent Care, including Medical Residents and other trainees.

- Follow all VA policies and regulations governing research; participation is optional.

Supervisory Controls

The UCP functions within the Urgent Care department and reports to the Associate Chief of Staff for Medical Services. The physician exercises independent clinical judgment commensurate with training and privileges and collaborates with clinical and administrative leadership. Assignments may be supervisor-directed or arise from patient care needs. Work is reviewed for effectiveness, quality, and timely completion.

Work Schedule

- Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

- Schedule may change based on facility needs.

- Participation in disaster/surge backup call is required.

- Occasional overnight coverage during emergencies may be required.

- Participation in pandemic response and direct patient care is required regardless of personal risk factors.

Preferred Experience

- Experience in urgent care or emergency department settings.

- Demonstrated competence in higher-acuity practice.

- Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.

- Prior VA experience preferred but not required.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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. ( 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 accrediting 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; 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.
    • 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.

Preferred Experience: Experience in urgent care or emergency department settings. Demonstrated competence in higher-acuity practice. Experience working with interdisciplinary teams. Prior VA experience preferred but not required.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements

Education

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

"VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.