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: The work is primarily sedentary
• It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally
• Reaching above shoulder
• Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day)
• Sitting (4-7 hours per day)
• Walking up to 6 hours per day)
• Standing (up to 8 hours per day)
• Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs
• Some bending
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Correctable near sighted and far-sighted vision
• Hearing (Aid permitted)
• The work may be performed primarily in a well-lit and temperature ­controlled office environment
• With patients who may suffer with mental illness - there is occasional risk of violence requiring the use of good judgment and safety precautions.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2025 or until all positions are filled
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 15 February 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) - Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) - under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line (MHBS)
• This position is aligned under the Specialty Outpatient Mental Health Services and will serve as the Supervisory Psychiatrist for Substance Use Services - including the Buprenorphine Program - Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program - and the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program medication providers
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but not be limited to: Provides for quality and safety of the care - treatment and services provided by the Section in the MHBS service
• This requires ongoing monitoring and evaluating of quality and safety (including access - efficiency - and effectiveness)
• appropriateness of care and treatment provided to patients
• patient satisfaction activities
• patient safety and risk management activities
• and utilization management
• Assists in identification of important aspects of care for the Section - identification of indicators used to measure and assess important aspects of care and evaluating of the quality and appropriateness of care
• Maintains records of meetings that include reports of conclusions - data recommendations - responsible persons - actions taken - and an evaluation of effectiveness of actions taken as appropriate
• Responsible for supervision of prescribing staff and evaluations including performance appraisals - proficiency - personnel actions - and peer reviews
• Develops policies and procedures to assure effective management - ethics - safety - communication - and quality within the section and between MHBS sections and other services as appropriate
• Reviews at least annually privilege templates for each service and make recommendations to the Chief - MHBS as needed for modifications
• Supports and monitors time and attendance of staff including leave requests via VATAS
• The Supervisory Psychiatrist is a LIP who practices based on specific approved privileges - guidance derived from VHA - Medical Center Bylaws and Service Directives/MCMS
• The Supervisory Psychiatrist is responsible for implementing - managing - and overseeing programs and services within the Section and reports directly to the Assistant Chief MHBS - or designee
• Supports and ensures compliance on the part of assigned staff support of resident/PA/NP/DO student supervision policy - clinical reminders - completion of encounters and notes - performance measures and indicators as required by local - VISN and national policy
• Plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs - designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in implementation of treatment plan as appropriate regarding their patients
• Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov 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 08:00-04:30pm