Physician (Regular Ft)- Primary Care

Summary

The physician shall provide primary care services required for VA beneficiaries. The physician shall provide care at the Cambridge Community Based Outpatient clinic (CBOCs). All labor and services shall be provided including management - supervision - teaching - consultations - and reports. Performance shall be according to professional standards of The Joint Commission. Care shall be appropriately documented in the electronic medical record in accordance with standard community practice.

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
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all basic requirements for the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees are considered to have met the basic qualification requirements for the purposes of transferring or reassignment to another Physician position within VA
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional certification that meet all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the assignment
• Preferred Experience: At least (2) two years of recent - full time experience providing direct (face-to-face) primary care to adults in a community clinic
• Board certification Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
• Experience providing well-woman care including preventive screenings including - but not limited to - breast and cervical cancer screening and care for women's health conditions commonly seen in outpatient clinic settings
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
  
  

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Major duties include but are not limited to: Patient Care and Assessment: Provide comprehensive patient care including assessment - health history - physical examination - and patient education
• Diagnose and treat chronic conditions - inter-current medical conditions - and acute medical conditions
• Perform advanced - comprehensive health assessments - including relevant history and physical assessment
• Preventive Care: Perform a variety of disease prevention-related activities including gender and age-specific screenings - mental health screenings - and health promotion activities
• Provide comprehensive gender-specific care - including cervical and breast cancer screenings - menopause - and contraceptive management - especially for female veterans
• Chronic Disease Management: Monitor and manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes - hypertension - and asthma
• Develop and implement treatment plans according to accepted protocols
• Coordination of Care: Collaborate with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive - continuous care
• Work closely with nursing - clerical - pharmacy - social workers - dietitians - and other team members
• Coordinate care across different departments and external facilities as necessary
• Mental Health Care: Screen for - evaluate - and treat uncomplicated common mental health disorders such as depression and common addictions - referring to mental health providers as needed
• Supervision and Education: Supervise and provide clinical oversight for mid-level providers such as physician assistants - if needed
• Participate in the supervision and teaching of residents and medical students from affiliated medical schools
• Documentation and Administrative Tasks: Ensure timely and accurate documentation in patient records - including notes and encounter forms
• Complete all administrative work promptly and address clinical reminders as medically appropriate
• Participate in peer reviews - quality assurance programs - and medical record reviews
• Meetings and Continuing Education: Regularly attend primary care staff meetings - departmental meetings - and medical staff meetings
• Engage in continuous professional development and stay updated with medical advancements
• Leadership and Collaboration: Provide leadership to ensure care is completed within required timeframes and participate in quality improvement activities
• Participate in team meetings and treatment planning conferences to enhance patient care coordination
• Serve as a surrogate for absent primary care providers when needed
• Ethics and Professional Conduct: Adhere to ethical standards - VA policies - clinical practice guidelines - and regulatory requirements
• Ensure practice consistency with Joint Commission - CARF - VA policies - clinical practice guidelines - and HIPAA policies
• Actively participate in compliance readiness activities and maintain a harmonious - customer service-oriented work environment
• Clinical Responsibilities: Order and evaluate diagnostic tests - determine medical assessments - and develop treatment plans
• Prescribe medications according to approved formulary and in accordance with federal and state laws
• Utilize all virtual care modalities as part of patient care provision
• Women's Health Responsibilities: Provide primary care - including preventive healthcare - evaluation - and management of women's health issues such as gynecological care - menopause management - birth control counseling - and initial infertility evaluation
• Collaborate with gynecologists - women's veterans practice managers - maternity coordinators - and breast care coordinators
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN5EDRPBaltimore@va.gov - 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 Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday - Friday