The Primary Care Physician functions within multidisciplinary PACT team assigned to provide comprehensive, collaborative acute and continuity care to an assigned panel of Veterans as well as to patients outside of the assigned panel when Veteran care indicates a need for such. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) 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. 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 and Registration: 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), b) 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. Proficiency in spoken and written English. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board Eligible in Internal/Family Medicine 3+ years of experience in a Primary Care setting Strong Customer Service skills Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) Strong skills utilizing electronic medical record system Strong problem solving skills 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: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (6hrs); Standing (6hrs); Repeated bending (2hrs); Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental/emotional stability; Ability to perform privileges; Independently performs physical exam as appropriate to position; Cognitive stability ["The Primary Care/PACT Provider will provide leadership in the application of the PACT model and clinical practice guidelines to organizational processes and/or systems in order to optimize patient care outcomes, achieve excellence in both internal and external customer service and shape collaborative, high-performing teams. Duties include but are not limited to: Ongoing, continuous care of one or more assigned panel(s) of Veterans. Utilizing all available tools, such as registries, to enable effective and efficient identification and intervention of individual patients and cohorts. Ensuring appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patients assigned to the patient panel. Functioning at the full extent of the team member's relevant clinical privileges, credentials, scopes of practice, elements of practice, certification, functional statement, or other VHA or local facility approved documentation of competency. Participating in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and care delivery to patients. Implementing primary care operations management processes, as appropriate. Managing communications and facilitating safe transitions of patients between the PACT's site of care and other health care settings, using informal and formal communication methods, as appropriate. Providing health education and health coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self-management skills to patients and personal support persons, commensurate with the documented expertise or professional training of the PACT member. Engaging patients in using health care, encouraging patients to engage personal support persons, receiving input from patients and personal support persons regarding VA care. Using formal and informal communications that are respectful, effective, timely, and bidirectional with all team members (including the patient and personal support persons) to convey significant, clinically relevant information for the care of the patient. Providing health care commensurate to the PCP's licensure and clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ensuring the patient's care plan contains medical recommendations for clinically indicated care. Offering clinically indicated health care services to patients assigned to the PACT and providing or arranging for care to which patient's consent. Providing leadership to the team including shared delegation of appropriate care and care processes to appropriate team members. Reviewing available clinical and performance data with the team, focusing on continuous improvement of critical team processes. Ensuring the patient has same-day access for face-to-face and telephone care visits during regular clinic hours. Collaborating with PACT staff to develop personal health plans that incorporate care management and care coordination appropriate to the patient's needs. Communicating with facility leadership regarding the resources needed by the PACT for optimal function. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station: Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized \"See details in Education Section\" Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.