Physician (Psychiatrist - SUD)

The substance use disorders (SUD) psychiatrist performs assessment and treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders within a multi-disciplinary team. The psychiatrist works closely with their colleagues to provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment in the outpatient setting. The psychiatrist works under direction from the Chief of Mental Health and the Section Chief of Specialty Care in Mental Health Outpatient Services.

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: 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Responsibilities:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides care for patients receiving buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in the outpatient setting.
• Provides treatment for patients with co-occurring SUD and general mental health disorders in the outpatient setting.
• Responsible for the supervision of medical students and psychiatry residents, including supervision of third year psychiatry residents on their 1 year longitudinal outpatient mental health rotation.
• Conducts history and physical examinations to include mental status examinations, intake assessments, substance use disorders assessments, and suicide risk evaluations.
• Must be skilled in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. The psychiatrist must be able to provide a comprehensive clinical/psychiatric summary.
• Delivers care in a variety of settings to include in-person and telehealth.
• Helps to ensure accreditation requirements are met, to include reviewing checklists for compliance with The Joint Commission, CARF, HIPPA, VA policies and procedures, national statutes and regulations, clinical practice guidelines, and mandatory continuing education.
• Document patient care in the patient chart via the Computerized Patient Record System.
• Follow VA guidelines regarding infection control and safety.
• Will be assigned to treatment teams and adhere to team meeting responsibilities.
• Will adhere to all quality management performance measures.
• Complete clinical reminders, encounters, and clinical pertinence reviews as directed.
• When called upon, engage in a collaborative agreement with a nurse practitioner and/or provide clinical supervision to a physician assistant.
• Participate in performance improvement activities, physician peer review, and committees as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.


Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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. Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN9HREDRP@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: Work hours are Monday through Friday 7:45 am- 4:30pm. On call for after 4:30 and on weekends and holidays is rotated among the staff.