Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• The HBPC Physician is the senior clinician and is responsible for the overall medical care delivered by the HBPC team assigned to. The incumbent works in collaboration with the HBPC Medical and Program Director to meet the requirements of the program. The incumbent may have a faculty appointment and be involved in academic activities with affiliated medical schools or residency programs.
• The incumbent provides patient care directly and/or through the supervision of mid-level practitioners, residents, fellows and/or medical students in the home setting. The incumbent will also be expected to provide coverage for the HBPC Medical Director.
• The incumbent will provide direct patient care which includes assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome measures of medical problems meeting universally accepted quality of care standards. This includes the following:
  initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens, performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consults and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, federal & state regulations, and working within their scope of practice. The incumbent will need to collaborate with specialty clinics as well as community providers.
• Determine appropriateness and eligibility for Veterans referred to HBPC program.
• Plan and direct the educational and clinical experience of medical students, residents and fellows assigned to the HBPC Program.
• Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of the HBPC performance improvement plan and quality metrics.
• Advocate for HBPC with VHA leadership and the medical community.
• Providing clinical input and oversight for patient treatment plans.
• Being readily available to the team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise.
• Participating in HBPC team meetings.
• Collaborating with other HBPC Medical Directors, VISN leadership, and VA Central Office staff on program development issues.
• Assuming primary medical responsibility for VA patients.
• Supervising the medical management of the HBPC panel.
• Determining the need for consultation of subspecialty care as well as community care.
• Determining the need for, and facilitating, admission to the hospital.
• Visiting the HBPC patients at home, when appropriate.
• Serving as collaborator for advanced practice nurses and/or physician assistants.
• Providing medical administrative support such as signing forms requiring physician signature for the HBPC patients.
• Collaborating with community home health and hospice agencies as needed for patients.
• Complying with Medical Center and VHA regulations regarding the use of government vehicles.
• Demonstrating work practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment.
• The position requires travel and incumbent must maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their caregivers, HBPC interdisciplinary team and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Other duties as assigned

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. Learn more .

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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
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

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The position will require walking, standing, or sitting for periods of up to 8 hours each day and delivering care, providing holistic care, and case management in the home of the veteran. This may require excessive bending, lifting, twisting, and driving in inclement weather.

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or

Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.

For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Additional information

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
• Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
• Financial Disclosure Report:Not required
• If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .