Physician - Psychiatrist (IPU Medical Director, Supervisor & Program Manager)

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: Board-eligibility or board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. All prescribers must have an active DEA license.

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

Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of walking, standing, and sitting; some light lifting, reaching overhead, bending, stooping, and work in front of a computer.

This position requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a health care setting with adequate lighting, heating and cooling. Work may involve exposure to infection and possible contagious diseases.

Standard precautions and isolation techniques will be employed as indicated.

There may be occasion where response to physical and/or verbal abuse by patients requires knowledge gained from ongoing violence in the workplace training. Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Michael.campbell6@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: Adhoc IPU Psychiatrist Medical Director, Supervisor, and Program Manager - The Inpatient Psychiatry Unit (IPU) provides acute stabilization for Veterans with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

This position serves as the Medical Director, Supervisor of non-nursing staff, and Program Manager of the IPU; and additionally serves as the attending psychiatrist for one IPU interdisciplinary treatment team (ITT).

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for activities related to the planning, development, and implementation of key projects related to IPU, this position requires a working knowledge of advanced psychopharmacology, substance use treatment, and psychotherapy as well as expertise in treating co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Provides consultation and guidance to other psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Clinicians and nursing staff; role models effective mental health practice skills, teaches clinicians and patients about symptoms of mental illness, treatment, side effects, compliance, work and social outcomes, and quality-of-life recovery-oriented care.

Clinical: 60% - Direct Patient Care on IPU: Conducts psychiatric evaluations, develops treatment plans, and implements treatment, and provides clinical management for a variety of complex mental health conditions, including, but not limited to: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and other related conditions.

Treatment planning focuses on utilization of pharmacological interventions as well as appropriate referral for additional studies and/or for adjunctive psychosocial interventions.

Treatment planning also involves informing patients of risks, benefits, and alternative treatments, and answering all questions.

Provides consultation to veteran families and caregivers as well as APC providers and other professional staff on the assessment, education, and treatment of veterans with complex clinical problems.

Administrative: 40% Medical Director - Oversight of all clinical care provided on the IPU, and has primary responsibility for planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures; developing individual and group goals and objectives, as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating, and overseeing the interdisciplinary staff of the assigned program.

Program Manager - Oversee all clinical services, such as psychiatric care, case management, individual assessment, psychological evaluation, psychoeducational classes, groups and individual psychotherapy services, and evidence-based psychotherapies.

Serve as the VA medical facility subject matter expert in coding and documentation of inpatient mental health encounters.

Supervisor - Exercise supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignments and performance reviews, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised.

As a portion of the IPU workload is carried out during evening and night shifts, must be able to identify and implement effective means of evaluating work, provide necessary training to ensure all team members are meeting expectations, and ensure team members have the necessary leadership and clinical acumen to manage emergent mental health crises that may arise at all hours of the day.

Clinical Coordination Team and Service Meetings Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm