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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment - you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 9th - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 17th - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm 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 The Substance Use Disorder Program (SUDP) Director is responsible for ensuring available SUD services are consistent with recommended psychosocial and pharmacological SUD treatments specified by VA-DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines
• The incumbent will oversee the SUDP Program Manager who will implement the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• The incumbent will also oversee the other prescribers within SUDP and the Buprenorphine Outpatient Clinic
• Additionally - will oversee health professions trainees within SUDP including psychiatry residents during their clinical rotation and acting as the site director for the rotation
• Will ensure Veterans have the flexibility to move throughout the SUD continuum of care based on the individual needs and preferences of the Veteran by promoting a Veteran-centered - shared decision-making (SDM) approach
• Must implement measurement-based care as a tool to systematically individualize treatment based on recurring assessment of Veteran needs
• Improve SUD care through participation in VA medical facility and national quality improvement initiatives
• The incumbent will work with VA medical facility women's health and women's mental health champions to ensure availability of substance use treatment tailored to women Veterans' needs - including preconception - pregnancy and postpartum care
• Keeps specialty SUD and other clinical staff informed on the latest developments in SUD prevention and treatment through participation in VA medical facility - CBOC and national teleconferences and continuing education
• Ensures evidence-based harm reduction interventions are available to all Veterans with SUD consistent with current guidance on harm reduction in VHA
• Lastly - ensures operation of specialty SUD programs in accordance with current VHA policies and procedures
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including diagnostic assessment - medication evaluation and management (including medication assisted therapy such as buprenorphine for opioid use disorder) - suicide risk assessments - crisis intervention - psychosocial treatment - and overall care of patients with substance use - addiction - and comorbid psychiatric disorders
• Ensures practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with TJC - CARF - HIPPA - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice guidelines - national statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - and mandatory continuing education
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Participates effectively in committees - team meetings - treatment planning conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to enhance coordination of comprehensive patient care
• Actively engage and contribute to achieving performance metrics for the pain management program
• Orders diagnostic tests and consultations and discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions
• Participate in supervision and teaching in support of the residency program - perform on call duties - and performs other directly related duties as assigned.