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; 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 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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: None Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35 pounds - intermittently
• moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) - intermittently
• lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care
• pulling - intermittently
• pushing - intermittently
• reaching above the shoulders - intermittently - both hands required
• walking - intermittently
• standing - intermittently
• kneeling - intermittently
• repeated bending - intermittently
• climbing and use of both legs and arms - intermittently - both legs required
• near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing aid permitted
• twisting - simply grasp and fine manipulation
• Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• however - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• The Physician (Regular Ft) - Mental Health Psychiatrist is assigned to the Mental Health Service Line at the Washington - DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• The position location is at Charlotte Hall - Maryland
• The incumbent works as a psychiatrist at the Charlotte Hall Community Based Outpatient Clinic in the Washington DC VA network
• Psychiatric evaluation of patients with mental health complaints - including diagnostic assessments in accordance with DSM-V and ICD-10 criteria - diagnosis - treatment - admission to inpatient unit - inpatient or outpatient work-ups - as indicated - and the provision of appropriate - evidence-based treatment
• Psychiatrists conduct risk and memory (MMSE/MoCA) assessments on patients - perform mental status examinations - utilize measurement-based care - diagnose movement disorders
• and provide psychiatric consultation to other clinicians on patients with mental - behavioral - or emotional disorders
• Duties to include but not limited to: Demonstrate the ability to establish effective working relationships within the behavioral health care team model and with co-workers - patients - support service staff - nursing staff - physicians and other Medical Center staff
• Maintain self-control and respond effectively to requirements of a complex - high-intensity work situation
• Diagnostic assessment - evaluation and treatment of patients with mental - behavioral or emotional disorders
• Manage patients with addictive disorders - perform supportive psychotherapy and perform mental status examinations on patients using evidence-based psychiatric treatments utilizing recovery-oriented principals
• Perform initial and ongoing assessment of patient's mental - physical - and psychosocial status - including but not limited to.
• Obtain and document a comprehensive medical and psychological history and physical examination - Formulate and document diagnostic assessments - Manage minor acute medical problems Take call - when necessary to assist the Department in meeting its obligation to provide mental health care on a continuous basis
• Order - review and interpret diagnostic tests and take appropriate action Provide medical advice to patients - patient's families - and other services and community health providers Serves on process action teams - task forces - investigative boards and committees - as assigned - and provides appropriate communication and feedback to the psychiatry supervisor and Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health regarding impacts that affect our service line
• Enters and completes appropriate documentation into the EHR on time on a timely basis
• Attends Medical Center and community meetings - seminars - conferences and represents a professional image as a health care professional of the Washington DC VA Medical Center Healthcare System
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact visn5edrpwashingtondc@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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm EST Remote: This position is currently designated as fully remote under the VA's Return-to-Office exemption for telehealth providers
• however - this exemption may be revised in alignment with future policy changes or agency directives
• Should that happen - this position may transition to a hybrid-telework model or require periodic in-person presence at your assigned CBOC location
• Until any such change is formally communicated - the role remains 100% remote.