Physician (Psychiatrist)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut-off dates are on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

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.

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

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); Light Carrying (under 15 pounds); Walking (up to 1 hour); Standing (up to 1 hour); Hearing aid permitted. Ability to perform rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing (aid permitted); emotional/mental stability.

Responsibilities:

The Tuscaloosa VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Full-Time Psychiatrist in Mental Health Service Line (MHSL). The Staff Psychiatrist is primarily responsible for the overall psychiatric care delivered to enrolled Veterans at the Tuscaloosa VA Health Care System. They provide professional patient care approximately 98% of the time and administrative duties 2% of the time, to cover required committee and service line responsibilities.

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

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 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. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Learn more.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

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Providing all levels of psychiatric care and treatment to the Veteran population, and as assigned, with specialized professional service programs within the MHSL in all aspects of healthcare delivery modalities such as face-to-face, telehealth/VVC or telephone appointments.
• Serving as a member for interdisciplinary treatment team and providing all levels of psychiatric care and treatment to Veterans within the inpatient, outpatient and residential programs.
• Providing consultation to other clinical staff associate with the delivery of Mental Health services at the Medical Center.
• Adhering to and complying with accreditation standards to provide integrated, interdisciplinary delivery of health care services to the Veterans, including coordinating, providing and improving health care services responsive to that patients' needs and health care.
• Meeting the treatment needs and concerns of inpatients, outpatients and residential patients and to providing diagnostic care and appropriate treatment to the patients to maintain standards of high-quality care for this Medical Center in mental health.
• Understanding and reacting effectively to the unique needs of the patients of various age groups with concerns being addressed in clinical assessment, patient care delivery and in daily interaction with and the treatment of patients.
• Assessing, identifying and providing care that recognizes the differing developmental and treatment needs of patients of different ages, races, religions and gender and specifically recognizing the differing needs of adult and geriatric patients which are the patient population served.
• Appropriately completing, signing and releasing notes promptly and accurately using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Participating in quality management activities such as medical records reviews, Drug Utilization Evaluations, Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Peer Reviews as required.
• Anticipating potential problems and attempting to solve those problems before they lead to complaints, and responding to complaints by Veterans or their families to the Patient Advocate in a timely manner.
• Determining the need for consultation from medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric subspecialties.
• Determining the need for, and facilitating, admissions to or discharges from an acute inpatient psychiatric unit in collaboration with other providers.
• Collaborating with the Admissions Screening team for any admissions to inpatient or residential units, as needed.
• Ensuring medical center policies are followed and specifically regarding the use of psychotropic medications.
• Informing the Chief, Psychiatry or Associate Chief of Staff, MHSL of any patient abuse (either physical or mental) by anyone, being either a staff or a family member.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Salary : $1,000 - $225,000