Physician -Lead Program Psychiatrist

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.

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.

• 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
• Reference: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

• The incumbent's primary assignment is to provide behavioral health services to patients throughout the facility to include Outpatient Clinics - Inpatient Units - Primary Care - Emergency Department and to the Substance Abuse Post Traumatic Stress and Community Day Programs
• The incumbent is expected to possess a high degree of knowledge which includes mastery of diagnosing as defined by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders (DSM) - treatment interventions - medications effects/side effects and mastery of the theories - principals - concepts and methodologies acquired through education and practice
• FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Provides psychiatric assessment services and diagnosis mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients - via face-to-face/traditional mental health or via tele-mental health services to various locations including CBOCs
• Provides education to patients - family members and significant others
• Provides consultation to professional staff concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients
• Develops - implements - and documents the treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients
• Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions and documentation
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Assists in the implementation of clinical programs
• Assists in ensuring the facilities' ability to meet standards issued by various accrediting and regulatory groups and VA Headquarters
• Plans - coordinates and implements quality clinical care through analysis and evaluation of multiple method and tools that measure quality
• Participates in various mental health components of the Medical Center Strategic Plan
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Psychiatry Service Leadership
• Attends regular Mental Health staff meetings - Medical Staff and facility committee meetings as assigned - and complies with Psychiatry peer review procedures
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact ... - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/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 Telework Eligibility: Ad-Hoc Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM