Physician (Psychiatry Section Chief)

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 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 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: 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. 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. 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 toward 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: Board certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit Physical requirements: Must pass a pre‑employment physical examination in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Responsibilities The Mental Health Service Line provides care in several psychiatric settings: inpatient units, ambulatory programs, residential program for substance abuse, residential program for PTSD, emergency department, medical‑surgical ward psychiatric consultation and geriatrics with extended programs. Psychiatrists within the Mental Health Service are able to perform and teach all of the services required in the practice of psychiatry to psychiatry residents. Educational experiences are also provided to appropriate health care personnel who seek training in mental health services (e.g. medical students, psychology and social work interns, physician assistant and nursing students, and non‑psychiatric medical residents). Section Chief duties include but are not limited to providing clinical and administrative coverage for outpatient mental health; participating in on‑call rotation of psychiatrists which may include rounds on acute patients during weekends and holidays; supervising psychiatry staff; providing general oversight of advanced clinical providers working in mental health; providing clinical coverage of inpatient units and outpatient units as necessary; advising and counseling workers on work and administrative matters; participating and coordinating Medical Center clinical committees as required; managing psychiatry discipline specific issues/concerns as appropriate; working with other Mental Health supervisors to ensure appropriate disposition services and meaningful therapeutic treatments are offered throughout the department; acting in the absence of Mental Health Service Chief and serving on the management team of the Mental Health Service Line; reviewing and approval/disapproval of leave requests; ensuring that subordinates are trained and fully compliant with safety regulations; and applying accepted protocols for assessment of individuals presenting for psychiatric care. Assessment may include gathering verbal and documented history, mental status examination, and medical and laboratory evaluation; diagnostic description or formulation to guide appropriate acute and secondary treatment interventions; provision of psychiatric care according to privileges; availability for emergency psychiatric interventions during on‑call hours; providing or assisting residents and/or advanced clinical providers in the process of evaluation and treatment of the psychiatric patient; actively participating in corrective actions against untoward responses; evaluating the patient to assess changes in physical and mental status; writing progress notes in the patient’s chart; and achieving concurrence with notes written by the resident and attending notes as appropriate. Perform inpatient and outpatient psychiatry evaluations and treatment as the team leader; participate in various hospital committees, departmental and hospital in‑service programs, and education programs of the department and the hospital; be involved in continuous quality improvement through the peer review process; initiate or participate in ongoing research activity; faculty appointments to affiliated medical schools available – teaching medical students, residents and other disciplines is essential. Regularly create and maintain an environment that ensures confidentiality and privacy for patients; promote teamwork by cooperating with and supporting staff, visitors and customers in achieving the hospital’s mission. Benefits VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment incentive – sign‑on bonus may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment) – authorized under EDRP. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days 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% contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement. Licensure: One 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: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Contact James Grimm – EDRP Coordinator; Questions or assistance: View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs