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:

• Board certification in either AAFP or ABIM.
• Two or more years of recent Clinical experience in a Primary Care Clinic

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

Physical Requirements: The work is usually sedentary, but it requires periods of walking, standing, bending, or climbing and employee may carry light items such as books, instruments, laptops, and other similar materials. It may require the following as well:
- Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs.
- Light carrying under 15 lbs.
- Reaching above shoulders
- Use of both hands
- Walking, kneeling, and bending
- Hearing (aid may be permitted).
- Use of fingers

Responsibilities:

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

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for theEducation Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Contact Lashala Goodman- lashala.goodman@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 This position is in support of the Primary Care Services in the Central Arkansas Veterans Health System (CAVHS), based in the North Little Rock, Arkansas. Primary Care service encompasses traditional Primary Care, Womens health, preventative health/wellness and occupation and service-related assessment and treatment. CAVHS also supports the Internal Medicine continuity clinical education for its Academic Affiliate, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. The Veterans Health Administration uses a team-based approach to Veteran centric Primary Care.

Duties include; but are not limited to the following:

-Diagnosis and management of common and complex diseases and functional disorders of the circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, metabolic, musculoskeletal, hematopoietic, gastroenteric, and genitourinary systems and acute and chronic pain. As well as medical conditions involving allergy and immunology, cardiology, oncology, infectious diseases, nephrology, and rheumatology.
- Ambulatory care physicians assess, stabilize and determine disposition of patients with emergent conditions.
- Ordering, interpreting, and evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess patients' clinical problems and health care needs. Includes laboratory studies, electrocardiograms, radiographic procedures, KOH preps, Home Glucose Monitoring, Gram Stains.
- General medical history and physical examinations and care involving observation, assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patients. Privileges include outpatient care, and initial evaluation of all patients presenting in an ambulatory setting.
- Consultation or referral to appropriate physicians, clinics, or other health resources as indicated.
- Chronic or long-term illnesses in adults.
- Performs preventative health care counseling and instructs patients and/or families on treatment plans.
- Diagnosis and management including counseling for emotional and behavioral problems.
- Diagnosis and management of occupational and environmental problems.
- Oversee health supervision visits with appropriate anticipatory and preventive guidance and screening measures.
- Triage of patients with life-threatening conditions.
- Counseling patients with common marital or family problems.
- Adult Immunizations.
- Diagnose and treat episodic illnesses in adults.
- Counseling of patients with minor psychosexual problems
- Gender specific diagnosis, management for preventative screenings for both male and female Veterans

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm

Salary : $1,000 - $235,000