A physician in the psychiatry service is an independent care provider who is highly skilled in the management of patients with behavioral health problems and provides a wide variety of general and specialized psychiatric services through Behavioral Health of the Walla Walla VAMC. The physician will carry a caseload and provide consultation to Behavioral Health, Primary Care, and other clinical programs in the WW-VAMC, community agencies and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. 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 Certification or eligible by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. 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. Physical Requirements: Use of fingers; Both hands required; See computer screen; Hearing (aid may be permitted) Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone ["The Incumbent will perform general psychiatric assessment and treatment in a multi-disciplinary setting composed of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Peers and a variety of rehabilitation/recovery therapists. The incumbent serves as an active member of treatment teams providing consultation and direct patient care in collaboration with multidisciplinary staff. Provides a full range of professional psychiatric services to address the complex issues (i.e. medical, vocational, educational, and social) faced by Veteran patients served in the Behavioral Health and Primary Care clinics. These direct services include, but are not limited to: Individual psychotherapy services Group psychotherapy services Medication assessment and management Consultation to other medical and nursing providers on psychiatric issues Behavioral interventions Facilitation of referrals to Behavioral Health Service programs for patients in need of specialized services Records clinical information in the medical record according to prescribed standards and collects and maintains required statistical information Participates on a variety of service and facility committees, task groups or special projects groups to assure compliance with agency directives and goals and contribute to the delivery of health care services to Veterans Identifies gaps in services and works to resolve those gaps Provides staff development, training, and oversight direction to Behavioral Health staff members, interns, volunteers, and others as directed by the Chief of Behavioral Health Service Provides educational presentations to staff on topics relevant to the care and management of patients with mental disorders in the primary care environment Prepares reports according to VISN and VACO requirements, as directed by the Chief, Behavioral Health Service VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidates Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, alternative schedule considered at needs of the department."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
