Career Center

Summary

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.

Qualifications

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Working with general mental health population in an outpatient setting
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds - Light carrying - under 15 pounds - Use of fingers

Duties

• Duties for the Psychiatrist at VA Bedford Healthcare System will include the following - Providing mental health evaluation - psychopharmacology and brief motivational treatments to veterans served in Outpatient and Consultation settings
• Providing curbside consultation to non-mental health clinicians
• providing medical and diagnostic expertise and support as needed Implementing and improving Emergency procedures (i.e
• suicidal patients)
• Maintaining continual accessibility during working hours via cell phone and beeper for emergent clinical needs or urgent clinical consultations
• Providing group and individual supervision to support and educate staff and assigned trainees
• Collaborating in performing program evaluations and analysis for quality management
• Bearing overall responsibility for the MH treatment of the patient: evaluating and providing optimal treatment - referring to other providers - coordinating with other providers seeing the same patient - seeking consultation when necessary - and approaching treatment within the entire context of available services at this VAMC and other facilities
• Managing cases efficiently - including thoughtful goal-setting - appointment scheduling - timely completion of requested letters or forms - and terminating treatment or referring to other levels of care when appropriate
• Working effectively with colleagues within our interdisciplinary care system (both within and outside of the M HSL)
• Involving supervisors - Quality Management - VA Police - and Hospital Administration when appropriate - using appropriate protection of patient information
• Contributing to an effective quality management system which includes process improvement - innovative system redesign - self-assessment and peer review As an expert in communication - arranging to be as available as possible to patients - colleagues - and other staff by keeping contact and schedule information of all kinds updated and fully available
• Contributing consistently to evidence-based public health interventions such as screening and follow-up of medical and mental health conditions
• Participating in our academic mission - including participation in Grand Rounds - teaching of medical students and psychiatry residents
• Being familiar with Medical Staff Rules & Regulations - Hospital Bylaws - Medical Center - MH - and Psychiatry memos - and state law applicable to MH duties
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved for qualified candidates Relocation Incentive: Approved for qualified candidates Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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
• Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA EDRP Program Support VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - for questions or assistance on how to begin the application process
• 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 (8:00a - 4:30p)