Physician - Psychiatry

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until August 28, 2024.

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.

Additional Requirement: Must be board certified or board eligible in psychiatry.

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: Typically, the employee sits comfortably indoors to do the work. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking; standing; sitting, bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile; etc. Use of fingers, both hands required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16", hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Responsibilities:

Cheyenne VAHCS (CVAHCS) is a Level 3 facility with service-lines serving medical, mental health, surgical, and neurological outpatients, with a Level 3 Emergency Department, and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). There is a large outpatient psychiatric population with admissions for medical co-morbidities. Home-Based Primary Care is provided in the Veteran's home.

Psychiatrist duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts Mental Health and Tele-Mental Health clinics and manages patient care within those clinics through the use of Tele-Mental Health/Tele-Home technology.
• Provides psychiatric consultative services within the facility including inpatient, outpatient, Community Living Center (CLC), and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's).
• Provides clinical supervision to the MHSL members in a weekly staff meeting.
• Provides crisis intervention when indicated including evaluation, assessment, triage, initiation of / support in Emergency Detention procedures, and disposition of patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies. As a licensed behavioral health professional, is required to provide "on-call" consultative services during evenings, nights and weekends, on a rotating basis with other qualified MHSL staff. While "on call" the incumbent is available to respond, by phone and in person as indicated by the situation, to the medical center to provide "on call" consultative behavioral health services timely. These services include evaluation, diagnosis, assessment, triage, and supporting the emergency department, medical units and RRTP in the disposition (especially recommended level of care) for patients presenting with behavioral health emergencies during off hours.
• Required to maintain current BLS and/or First Aid certification and remain current on all licensures.
• Attends MHSL Staff meetings and any other mandatory meetings regularly.
• Serves on Interdisciplinary Treatment Team(s).
• Serves a direct care provider and maintains a patient panel.
• May serve Veteran's in the Residential Program if appropriately privileged.
• Occasional travel is required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

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

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be available for certain locations
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment) EDRP: Authorized Learn more. Contact martha.kimmel@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