Staff Psychiatrist

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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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.

Additional Requirement: Board certified Psychiatrist

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects no more than 15 pounds, such as books, reports and binders. The work requires the use of a keyboard to access a computer and use software. The work typically occurs in a clinic/office environment with adequate lighting and heat.

Responsibilities:

Psychiatrists assigned to the Mental Health Service will provide care in various settings including Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, consultation to the Medical/Surgical Inpatient units and Emergency Room, Primary Care, Outpatient Programs, Opioid Treatment Program, and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP).

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General duties include, but are not limited to:

• Psychiatrists' duties may involve several aspects of psychiatry and will focus on the evaluation and treatment of Veterans who suffer from a variety of mental health conditions including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, dementia, substance use disorders, and other related conditions.
• Psychiatrists are responsible for assessing the patients' needs, developing a comprehensive collaborative care plan, and delivering high-quality evidence-based mental health care. The psychiatrists are also responsible for documenting care provided in the agency's electronic medical record within the required timeframe.
• Staff psychiatrists shall be responsible for inpatient, outpatient or residential care, graduate and undergraduate medical education, and scientific research, as appropriate.
• Staff psychiatrists are ultimately responsible for all aspects of psychiatric care. They will work within a mental health treatment team to evaluate, diagnose, treat and discharge co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder.
• Staff psychiatrists will provide or assist residents, the advanced practice nurses and/or physician assistants in the process of evaluation and treatment of the psychiatric patient, and actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to psychiatric interventions.
• Staff psychiatrists will evaluate the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status. A progress note is written in the patient's electronic chart in a timely manner. Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident and attending notes as appropriate.
• The incumbent will participate in quality assurance, process improvement, peer review and other performance monitoring, as required, by the Chief of Service or his or her designee.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00AM-4:30PM

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator 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

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Salary : $1,000