Physician - Primary Care

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.

Education: 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.

Licensure: 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. English Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects.

This could include moving objects such as pieces of equipment and assistance in moving clients. Major Duties:

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 Nichole.Chavez@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: Clinical and Administrative: Provides medical services to Veterans on an outpatient basis in the primary care setting.

Provision of inpatient care or Urgent Care may be seldom required and will be then specifically requested of the primary care provider by the supervisor.

Provides primary care medicine to an assigned panel of adult Veterans.

Veteran populations we serve are mostly male, with diseases consistent with those seen in the general population, namely diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, COPD, mental health disorders, amongst others.

Comprehensive primary health care for women is also required. A primary focus of practice is on preventive medicine.

Participates in the provision of Pain Management, Mental Health, and End of Life Care to Veterans in the primary care setting as required.

Mentors Nurse Practitioners (NP) and/or Physician Assistants (PA) on a daily basis.

Guides clinical management of complex patients consulted asked by mid level providers, including patients with pain issues, and those requiring narcotic management.

Communication: Meets with the Assistant Associate Chief of Primary Care, the Associate Chief of Primary Care (ACOS) and/or the Chief of Staff as necessary to ensure that the goals and objectives of the VAMC are met Communicates with other healthcare providers, as necessary, to ensure the timely access and continuity of care to Veterans.

Communicates clearly with the NP or PA that he/she oversee. This entails co-signage of all NP/PA notes when applicable.

This communication should be clear, professional, and directly related to medical care provided to patients. Education/Training: Participates in the education/training of personnel as requested.

Maintains CME credits as required by state law.

Supervises medical residents and acts as liaison with residency and university training programs at VAMC as appropriate Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm