Physician (Primary Care)

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.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of one year Primary Care experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling (1 hours); Pulling hand over hand (1 hour); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4 hours); Standing (4 hours); Repeated bending (4 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; 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 may be permitted); Emotional/mental stability

Environmental Factors: Dry atmospheric conditions; Fumes smoke, or gases, Electrical energy, Working with hands in water; Vibration, Working closely with others; Working alone; Protracted or irregular hours of work; Hazardous drugs

Responsibilities:

A Physician in the VA Primary Care is an independent care provider who is highly skilled in the management of a patient's primary care needs or subspecialty evaluation and treatment. The physician is board certified, in internal medicine, or completed a residency in family medicine, or occupational health. The physician will maintain a current BLS certification and credentialing package as required by the Alaska VA Healthcare System. The physician will remain up to date with the latest medical treatments and procedures via CME. The Alaska VA Healthcare System places great emphasis on the delivery and continuity of Primary Care. Patient Alignment Care Team (PACT) model is used with each patient identified and placed with a primary care provider and on an outpatient team. The team will be responsible for the longitudinal management of the patient. The PACT team Practice model will be patient-centered and interdisciplinary in nature.

The Physician will provide age-specific care for the young adult (20-40 years), middle aged adult (40-65 years), older adult (65-74 years) and geriatric (over 75 years). The Physician is accountable to the Clinic Manager and clinically to the Associate Chief of Staff for clinical professional responsibilities.

Duties Include but are not limited to:

• Provide preventive health for both male and female patients.
• Interpretation of EKGs
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn and incorporate virtual care visits.
• Chronic disease management of medical diseases including hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, chronic pain, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using clinical practice guidelines.
• Physicians are expected to act as "surrogates" for the patients of their colleagues, when one or more of their colleagues are on leave.
• Timely documentation is necessary in all areas in accordance with departmental policy. All administrative work should be completed in a timely fashion.
• Clinical reminders should be addressed as medically appropriate. Quality of care will always meet professional standards.
• During employment, participation in activities/committees/boards/projects may be necessary as dictated by strategic or other initiatives/taskings.
• Physicians may be assigned duty as a supervising or collaborating physician for a mid-level provider. Physicians are expected to provide clinical oversight and review. Supervising or collaborating responsibilities and performance will be noted in the physician's performance evaluation.
• Primary care providers in the outpatient setting are typically assigned a panel of patients to manage. Panel size is determined by utilizing VHA PCMM software. Panel size is determined at the National level, through a complex formula which extracts local information regarding acuity of assigned patients, available support staff, number of exam rooms, etc. Each provider's panel size is specific to their practice and setting.
• All physicians need to follow departmental and VHA policies for leave and attendance and will work within appointment guidelines. Currently VHA guidelines do not permit comp time or overtime pay for physicians.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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.Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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

Salary : $1,000 - $200,500