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
• Additional Requirement: Must be board certified
• Preferred Experience: Prior VA experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position may involve standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
• The work may involve going up and down flights of stairs.

Duties

• Psychiatrists are expected to provide health care services to veteran patients enrolled at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Healthcare System at the Wilmington Health Care Center location in Wilmington - North Carolina
• Services will be needed from 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m
• Monday through Friday - excluding Federal holidays
• Services will include but are not limited to performing initial psychiatric evaluations - conducting medication management clinics and providing appropriate treatment and management for general psychiatric problems on a predominantly outpatient basis
• Conditions requiring ancillary services such as psychological evaluation - substance abuse treatment - psychotherapy for victims of sexual and/or combat-related trauma - and other mental health conditions anticipated to respond to non-pharmacological interventions will be referred to those services within the Behavioral Health Service Line (BHSL) when appropriate
• Conditions requiring specialty care will be referred to specialty clinics within the VA health care system
• Physicians will not refer the patient to outside providers unless reviewed for eligibility by Health Administration Staff and appropriately authorized
• Treatment and professional duties as outlined in the incumbent's clinical privileges - as noted in our credentialing process
• some of which are listed below: Initial Psychiatric Evaluation of veterans to establish diagnosis and management plan - to develop a treatment plan including medication management - ordering of pertinent laboratory and radiology tests - and disposition of these patients
• Obtain appropriate consultation from specialists/ancillary services and communicate pertinent medical information to other health care providers/institutions
• Enter all diagnostic and treatment information - and related reports into the computerized patient record system (CPRS) on the day of the visit
• Documentation of health care provided - including all physician orders - must satisfy Department of Veteran Affairs and local VAMC policies/procedures - as well as meet external accreditation agency requirements for safe delivery of patient care
• The physician must possess computer skills to access the CPRS as utilized by the VAMC
• Orientation to CPRS will be provided by the VAMC
• Prescribe medications for patients according to the established drug formulary at this facility
• Variance from the formulary should occur only when clinically indicated and in compliance with the procedures established
• Perform services within the VA policies and procedures and the regulations of the Medical Staff By-Laws of the VAMC
• To provide psychiatric consultation to other services at the VAMC and associated community clinics when required
• Additional Duties as assigned by Assistant Chief of Psychiatry - Chief of Psychiatry - or Department Chief - BHSL
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available to highly qualified candidates Relocation Incentive: Available to eligible candidates
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator - Cheryl Lahair - at cheryl.lahair@va.gov for questions/assistance
• 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: Monday through Friday - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM