The physician serves as a staff psychiatrist for the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) also referred to as the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) at the American Lake Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Tacoma, WA. The psychiatrist's primary duties involve treating Veterans with a wide range of mental health disorders. 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. Additional Requirement: Board certified or board eligible in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Preferred Experience: Preferred candidate will have experience working with military veterans and patients with complex issues. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Sitting for long periods of time. Environmental factors: Working closely with others, working alone. ["Services may be provided through various treatment modalities, such as in-person visits (individual, group, medication groups, etc.), video teleconferencing technology to distance clinic sites and/or to Veterans in their homes, telephone visits, secure email messaging, and other tele-mental health technologies. Duties include but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the Mental Health Clinic. Demonstrates expertise in using and contemporary interview and assessment methods for mental disorders and/or behavioral health conditions. Provides education to patients and family members regarding mental disorders and best practices approaches to treatment. Provides evidence-based pharmacotherapy for an assigned panel of patients, with evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated and appropriate. Responsible for ordering, monitoring, and responding to all necessary laboratory and radiological assessments. Responsible for the initiation of appropriate health care consults and referrals, as indicated. Provides consultation to health care providers about assessment findings and treatment plan for patients to ensure that care is coordinated, collaborative, and integrated within the Medical Center. Develops, implements, and documents the mental health treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients. Provides evening and weekend on-call coverage, as assigned. Other clinical responsibilities: Providing consultation services to Geriatrics and Extended Care, and the Vet Centers; providing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) treatment to Veterans, if certified in rTMS. Assists the Team Leader and/or Program Director in the design, development, and implementation of clinical assessment and/or intervention programs. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the affiliated Team Leader, Program Director, and/or Service Line Leader. Assists the Team Leader and/or Program Director in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Complies with national and local performance measures and facilitates organizational success on these measures at the team level. Complies with all Facility and Service Line policies and expectations concerning administrative practices, including but not limited to leave authorization, responding to Suspense items, and completing TMS educational requirements. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Psychiatry Chief/Deputy Chief, Service Line Leader (or designee), Chief of Staff, and/or Facility Director. Attends scheduled Psychiatry Service Staff Meetings; and participates in the Psychiatry Service biannual competency review process (OPPE and FPPE), periodically serving on the Psychiatry Service Clinical Pertinence Review Committee. Maintains current knowledge of, and practices in accordance with, Joint Commission requirements. Provides clinical supervision and instruction for medical trainees. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: May be available to highly qualified candidates on an adhoc basis. Virtual: This is not a 100% virtual position. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Education Debt Reduction Program: Authorized. Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards."]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
