Physician (Primary Care)

Full Job Description

The Primary Care Physician serves as a practicing physician who is responsible for the overall management of patients enrolled for healthcare services provided by the Robley Rex VA Care Healthcare System.

Responsible for administrative tasks associated with clinic operations, provides leadership and direction to support staff assigned to their PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team).

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.

Preferred Experience: Board Certified Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Physician, 2 years of Primary Care experience in outpatient setting.

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

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for Title 38 occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for completing own credentials documents for the (re) appointment and privileging process Review abnormal radiology reports and laboratory reports as assigned by the Chief, Primary Care.

Complete all medical records documentation in a timely manner using SOAP format in the computerized medical record system and/or legible handwriting to ensure quality of care.

Serve as the primary source of patient care. He / she will provide appropriate examinations, diagnosis, treatment and/or referral of patients.

Provides education and home care instructions to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based medical interventions.

Develops, implements, and documents the treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt documentation of encounters in the computer system.

Functions independently as a member of the Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges.

He/she assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment, findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Adheres to operational policies and procedures as established by the Service Chief. Assist in data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.

Facilitates liaisons with other health care professionals in order to effectively coordinate services.

Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.

Complies with all computerized medical record documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).

Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Chief.

Attends regular Clinic staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, and complies with the clinic peer review procedures.

Provides clinical supervision and instruction for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. The physician exercises independent judgment in the practice and provision of medical services.

The incumbent is under the general supervision of the Chief, Primary Care.

The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives.

The employee keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters. Completed work is reviewed only in meeting requirements or expected results.

Relationships with management, co-workers, patients, and the general public are consistently courteous, tactful, respectful, and cooperative in nature.

The physician will be board certified/eligible in the above specialty and perform the duties of that specialty at the Robley Rex VAMC facilities. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN9HREDRP@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 Telework Eligibility: Ad-hoc Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm, may require some extended hours and Saturdays.