Physician - Chief of Pain Management

Full Job Description

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 ineligible to apply. 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 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.

Additional Requirement: None Preferred Experience: 1) At least 3 years of experience in a Pain Management role.

2) At least Basic level experience in the management of Medication Assisted treatments, i.e., MAT.

3) At least Basic level experience with management of Pain Management patients under care for Substance Use Disorder(SUD) or with Addiction Medicine.

4) Proficient level of experience in the management of Opioid and Non-Opioid Pain medication therapies and associated medication tapers and treatment protocols.

5) At least Basic level experience with management of Pain Management patients utilizing Whole health modalities.

6) Board Certification in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Fellowship training or similar level of clinical experience in Pain management and Addiction medicine would be preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care.

This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient.

This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care.

This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position.

This position requires moving about accomplish tasks, such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next.

This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position.

Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next, i.e.- from the exam table to the chair, and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Duties can vary based on the specific needs and priorities of the VA facility and the patient population it serves.

The role requires a dynamic balance between hands-on clinical care, administrative oversight, team leadership, and educational contributions. Major Duties:

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@va.gov, 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 Duties include, but are not limited to performing: Clinical Duties: Direct Patient Care: Assess, diagnose, and treat veterans suffering from sub-acute and chronic pain conditions.

Develop and implement individualized pain management plans for above and palliative/cancer pain in conjunction with Palliative and other relevant specialty services.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other healthcare providers, including primary care physicians, mental health professionals, physical therapists, and pharmacists, to provide comprehensive care.

Patient Education: Educate patients and their families about chronic pain management strategies, including medication use, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

Medication Management: Monitor and manage the usage of pain relief medications, including opioids, to ensure appropriate use and reduce the risk of dependency and side effects.

Ensure prescribing with use of the state prescription monitoring system. Engage in the Opioid Safety Initiative at the facility level.

Optional Procedural Interventions: Oversee minor interventional procedures such as nerve blocks, epidural injections, trigger point injections, and other minor surgical interventions.

Review referrals for radiofrequency ablative treatments, epidural and intrathecal medication management, infusion pump management and refills as appropriate, joint injections, etc.

Administrative Duties: Program Development: Develop and implement clinic policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure high standards of care and compliance with VA guidelines.

Collaborate with facility Pain Management Opioid Safety Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Coordinator.

Quality Assurance: Oversee quality improvement initiatives, including monitoring patient outcomes, conducting audits, and implementing corrective actions when necessary.

Resource Management: Manage clinic resources, including staffing, budgets, and equipment, to optimize clinic operations and patient care.

Reporting and Documentation: Maintain accurate and detailed patient records and generate reports as required for VA administration and compliance.

Compliance: Ensure that the clinic adheres to all relevant laws, regulations, and VA policies regarding healthcare delivery.

Leadership Duties: Staff Supervision and Mentorship: Supervise and support a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, chiropractors, and other clinical staff Training and Development: Provide ongoing education and training opportunities for clinic staff to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest pain management practices and technologies Performance Evaluation: Conduct performance evaluations for clinic staff and provide constructive feedback and professional development opportunities Strategic Planning: Participate in strategic planning for the clinic and broader healthcare system within the VA, including identifying areas for growth and improvement Educational Duties: Publications and Research: May engage in clinical research related to chronic pain management and contribute to peer-reviewed journals and other scholarly publications as sanctioned by the facility research department Teaching: Provide education and training for VA staff as well as medical students, residents, and fellows rotating through the pain clinic.

Participate in conferences, seminars, and workshops to share knowledge and expertise Community Outreach: Engage with veterans and the wider community to raise awareness about chronic pain management and available services within the VA Work Schedule: Typical tour of duty is expected to be Monday - Friday , 8:00am - 4:30pm; however, other tours including nights/weekends may be necessary should Veteran needs arise.