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:

• Citizenship: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) encourages any eligible non-citizens to apply
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: 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
• Licensure: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - OR 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
• Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Experience: The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician - have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision
• Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs - and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine
• Preferred Experience: Board Eligible/Board Certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching - standing - walking - and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care
• This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level - during the provision of patient care - including retrieval of needed equipment - supplies and to make contact with the patient
• This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care
• This position is typically non-sedentary - and frequently involves being in the standing position
• This position requires moving about accomplish tasks - such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next
• This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position
• Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next - i.e.- from the exam table to the chair - and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Duties

• This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year - up to four years) - the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) to pay up to $200 -000 in qualifying loans - and cover moving expenses to the Wilkes-Barre - PA area!! In addition - salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards Major Duties and Responsibilities: Addresses the unique characteristics and issues about the young adult (18-39) - middle adult (40-64) - older adult (65-80) and geriatric (80+) patients - taking into consideration cognitive deficits and emotional and behavioral reactions to stressful life events such as ill health - economic problems - and the loss of significant others Conducts comprehensive psychiatric assessments within biopsychosocial model - including psychopharmacology within evidence-based standards
• Routine collaboration will occur with PMHNP - PA-C - and PharmD for pharmacology interventions
• Assesses need and provide interventional psychiatry clinical services for very complex patient care needs - for example Treatment Resistant Depression (TMS - ESK) and Psychosis Intervention services (Severe Mental Illness)
• Professional training is provided
• Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care - procedures - methods - techniques - safety precautions - and protocols in their application to treatment and management of acute and chronic mental illnesses for psychiatric outpatients Providing cross coverage for the Attending Psychiatrist in the acute inpatient psychiatry unit (9HIP) to include completion all required health record/commitment documentation promptly
• and convening treatment team Participates as a key member of the patient care team to formulate patient centered treatment plans and monitor patient progress with recovery-oriented episode of care model
• Involvement with both - psychiatric and medical treatments
• Participating in the monthly on-call coverage roster during weekends - holidays - and after regular tour of duty hours (evenings and nights)
• on average - it will require coverage one weekend (day tour) and 3-5 nights a month Mental Health Consultation Liaison Team - Evaluating Veterans consulted to the team in the Emergency Room - Community Living Center - and Medical Floors In consultation with other physicians and physicians' assistants or nurse practitioners - assesses the medical condition of the patient in the context of his/her psychiatric condition Participates in behavioral crisis codes - to include evaluation if psychiatric hospitalization (voluntary and involuntary) threshold is present Maintain effective relationships with other team members to determine and meet the social - environmental - economic and psychological needs of the patient Providing cross/float coverage for BHIP Psychiatry for advance leave plan or urgent services as needed Roles and responsibilities may change based on service needs Primary modality of care is face to face or virtual care platforms May provides oversight for Professional Health Care Trainees VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized (the VA will reimburse you for your moving costs) Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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 Learn more
• 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: Sunday through Thursday - 8am to 430pm