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. *HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

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 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
• License: 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: ABPN Board Certified/Board Eligible in Psychiatry
• Comfortable/experience providing Mental Health care through Telehealth modalities
• Participation as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing a full range of Mental Health services to patients
• Demonstrates a high level of psychiatry practice using evidence based medicine principles involving patients who have complex illnesses
• Buprenorphine certification and treatment experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The Physical Requirements of this position are concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and may include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies
• This position may require potentially long periods of continued Light lifting under 15 pounds - Pulling hand over hand for 1 hour - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Hearing (aid may be permitted) - Emotional and mental stability.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 Serve as a staff psychiatrist within Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and is assigned to the Waco MHBM Service primarily serving the acute psychiatry inpatient units and the community living centers with coverage of the residential units as needed
• Performs psychiatric evaluations for veteran population with a vast array of mental health problems including personality - emotional adjustment - or mental illness and may have psychosocial issues such as homelessness - unemployment - and poor family support network
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including diagnostic assessment - medication evaluation and management - suicide risk assessments - crisis intervention - and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders
• Practice evidence based pharmacological interventions as deemed necessary for the treatment of mental illnesses with its goal of reducing psychiatric symptoms - improving interpersonal functioning and overall mental health
• Ensures practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with TJC - CARF - HIPPA - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice guidelines - national statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - and mandatory continuing education
• Able to work effectively and in a collegial manner within a multi-disciplinary team comprising of other mental health professionals including but not limited to Psychologists - Social Workers - License Practicing Counsellors - Nurses and Peer Support Specialists Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care
• Orders diagnostic tests - consultations - discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions
• Will be expected to participate in the teaching and supervision of residents and medical students
• Participates in the on-call psychiatry schedule and performs duties accordingly when on-call
• Psychiatric clinical care will be provided by face-to-face encounters
• Performs other directly related clinical duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Sunday 0800-2000 - 7 on 7 off