Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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: Board certified or board eligible in internal medicine
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment - you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 7 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 9 - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Full-time
• Schedule will be determined by supervisor
• 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 The Physician - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MHRRTPs) reports directly to the Director of MHRRTPs - or designee - who in turn reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mental Health and Homeless Programs - and is responsible for providing Medical services to eligible Veterans through the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)
• The incumbent will be responsible for assessment and care of new and returning patients with any number of medical problems (such as - hypertension - diabetes - and ischemic heart disease)
• They are responsible for ordering diagnostics - consultations - medications and other therapies as medically indicated - meeting specific preventative health maintenance needs - and completing all required VA electronic documentation and appropriate correspondence with VA multidisciplinary teams in a timely manner
• Majors duties include but are not limited to: Provides medical care for residents in the MHRRTP's with medical illnesses - including admission H&Ps - diagnoses - orders - consultations - treatments - and follow up visits
• Performs medical screenings for potential admissions
• Supports NP's care for patients with complex medical conditions as well as urgent and emergent care
• Performs procedures including diagnostic or therapeutic joint aspiration/injection - soft tissue injection - routine women's health (pelvic exam - breast exam) - laceration repair - foreign body removal - abscess incision and drainage - and wound debridement
• Performs preliminary interpretation of ECG and radiographic studies Supervises residents - fellows - and others in training
• Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team including nursing - clerical - addiction therapy - occupational therapy - social work - psychology staff - nurse practitioners (NPs) - and other physicians (MD/DOs) who provide medical and mental health care for the MHRRTPs
• Includes regular meetings in person or by phone or email to review patient care - help in managing complex medical conditions - coordination with mental health and other subspecialties for routine or emergency/urgent care - and review of controlled prescriptions
• Works at all the MHRRTP sites (DOM - TRP - FOR) as needed
• e.g
• to provide assistance due to changes in census - short-staffing - etc
• Provides after-hours medical services for the MHRRTPs
• Coordinates leaves and after-hours shifts with NPs and MDs
• Participates in systems re-design activities and projects within the context of continuous process improvement
• Attends non-clinical meetings as appropriate or required
• Completes assigned talent management system assignments as required
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Section Chief or the Chief of Staff
• Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - and Excellence.