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. 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. Education: 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. Licensure: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OR 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. Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Experience: The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician, have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light lifting, under 15 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; both hands required; walking 6-8 hours; standing 6-8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted) min 15/20 one ear and mental and emotional stability required. ["This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus, pay for moving expenses to the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, and pay up to $200,000 toward education costs!! In addition, salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics. The Wyoming Valley's manufacturing, arts and entertainment, and healthcare sectors, coupled with a solid foundation of higher education institutions and a growing visitor base, make our community vibrant and progressive. With year-round recreation and entertainment, residents and visitors enjoy skiing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, casino gaming, arena sports, and local parks, trails, forests, streams, and lakes. Major duties and responsibilities include: Primary responsibilities are in outpatient Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorder Services Performs psychiatric evaluations for a diverse population, including geriatric and post deployment combat Veterans, who are mentally ill and/or have substance use disorders who may have psychosocial issues such as homelessness, unemployment, or a poor family support network Must have clinical experience in treating substance use disorders Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including diagnostic assessments, medication evaluation and management, suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, and overall care of patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders Orders diagnostic tests and consultations and discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions Modalities for patient care include face-to-face, video teleconference, and telephone calls as clinically appropriate Provider must be able to incorporate alternative encounter modalities into clinical care Participates effectively in team meetings and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to enhance coordination of comprehensive patient care The Psychiatrist may serve as a mental health team leader with responsibilities for coordinating consults and triage of specialty clinic referrals Functions as part of a psychiatric care team working with other physicians, PAs, APRNs, nurses and other support staff. Works as collaborating physician with PAs and APRNs as necessary Ensures practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with TJC, CARF, HIPPA, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, and maintain mandatory continuing education Maintains appropriate licensing and board certifications as applicable 1 hour provided for new patients, 30 minutes for follow ups May be asked to perform on call duties depending on practice location, and other duties as assigned Other necessary duties as assigned by the Chief of Psychiatry VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized (the VA will pay for your moving costs) EDRP Authorized: Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): is 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. 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 to Friday, 8am to 430pm. Call may be required, and those details will be covered at interview"]
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.
