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 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: Board Certification in Psychosomatic Medicine/consult-Liaison Psychiatry
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Walking - bending - stooping - and some lifting in the direct care of patients
• There may also be extended periods of sitting.

Duties

• The ability to admit - evaluate - diagnose - and provide mental health treatment on Acute Medicine floors to individuals who suffer from mental - behavioral - or emotional disorders
• This can also include but is not limited to the ability to: 1
• Supervise multidisciplinary teams of allied health professionals (e.g. - psychologists - psychiatric nurse practitioners - physician's assistants - and pharmacists) in the treatment of patients
• 2
• Screen - diagnose and manage patients with psychiatric illnesses
• 3
• Screen - diagnose - and manage patients for mild/moderate addiction - intoxication - and withdrawal
• 4
• Provide brief intervention - addiction counseling - and medication management for patients with substance-related disorders
• 5
• Manage psychiatric complications of medical illnesses
• 6
• Assess patients with dual diagnosis issues and be able to work in a coordinated and collaborative care manner if the patient needs to be referred for additional addiction specialty care
• 7
• Clinical consultation from appropriate staff - if a diagnosis cannot be established after reasonable investigation - or it is uncertain of best course of action - or response to treatment is lacking in success or unacceptable
• 8
• Triaging Mental Health consultation requests
• 9
• Providing initial and follow-up psychiatric consultations hospital-wide (except inpatient psychiatry unit)
• This includes providing psychiatric assessment - diagnosis - and treatment recommendations - including psychiatric medications
• Essential to this is reviewing the veteran's electronic medical record especially Mental Health and recent Primary Care notes
• 10
• Prescribing - reviewing/evaluating veterans' responses to pharmacological and non- pharmacological treatment regimens
• Ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies and procedures as appropriate
• 11
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to formulate course of treatment
• Participating in interdisciplinary planning - ad hoc - or discharge planning meetings with teams regarding individual patients as clinically appropriate
• 12
• Providing supportive psychotherapy to veterans on Acute Care units as needed
• 13
• Making referrals to outpatient services and other resources - including mental health groups - individual psychotherapy - and psychiatric care
• 14
• Serving as resource and liaison - working collaboratively with multiple disciplines: nurse - social workers - psychologists - psychiatrists - and other physicians in various areas in the VA system-on mental health issues - restraint - and behavioral treatment plans-as well as with providers outside Mental Health and the VA
• 15
• Providing formal and informal education to nursing staff - medical students - nursing students - pharmacy students - residents - fellows and other physicians regarding psychiatric/mental health issues
• 16
• Call coverage: Currently 2-4 weeks per year - with inpatient rounding during call weekend/holidays
• As part of our team - you'll collaborate with skilled professionals and participate in clinical training for medical students - residents - and fellows
• Faculty appointment with the Medical College of Wisconsin is available for qualified candidates
• The position offers: Flexible scheduling Robust benefits (loan repayment - paid time off - retirement plan/pension - insurance) Supportive work environment Call coverage: 2-4 weeks per year - with inpatient rounding during call weekends/holidays After-hours ER mental health coverage by NP - PhD - and LCSW clinicians We value strong clinical and interpersonal skills - a commitment to veteran care - and a collaborative spirit
• Join us and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who served
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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