Physician Pain Medicine (Regular FT) VM-602-15

Summary

The Pain Medicine Physician will deliver comprehensive pain services as a core member of the Pain Medicine Section, supporting both patients and the broader Pain Management Team. This role provides care for Veterans within the Pain Medicine Section situated within the Neurology Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.

Duties

General Description of Assigned Duties The Pain Medicine Physician has specific responsibilities that include: Clinical: Perform comprehensive medical and functional evaluations for Veterans referred to the Pain Clinic, including history, physical examination, and review of diagnostic studies. Establish accurate pain diagnoses and comorbidities (e.g., substance use disorders, mental health issues) and, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, develop individualized, integrated treatment plans that emphasize functional restoration and self-management. Perform interventional pain care, including fluoroscopy and ultrasound-guided invasive procedures (e.g., epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablations, joint injections). Provide inpatient consultative services for Veterans admitted to the hospital experiencing acute pain, acute on chronic pain, or uncontrolled chronic pain. Provide medication management for chronic pain conditions, focusing on polypharmacy reduction, opioid risk stratification, and utilizing non-opioid analgesics and adjuvant medications. Manage opioid medications and perform opioid medication adjustments including tapers as indicated and in compliance with current VA/DOD Long-term Opioid Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines, and local VA policies. Evaluate, diagnose, and treat Veterans with opioid dependence/opioid use disorder and chronic pain, which may include initiation and management of buprenorphine products. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic studies necessary to optimize the pain care plan. Follows up with Veterans regarding results per VHA standards to discuss care plans, changes to therapy, and additional monitoring or testing requirements. - Provide clinical assistance to nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Provide training and supervision of physician pain medicine fellows working within the clinic. Complete all required electronic health record documentation in accordance with VHA standards, including timely, accurate entries for pain management activities, therapeutic changes, recommendations, procedures, and patient check-out (such as diagnostic and procedure codes). Ensures compliance with national and local performance measures, including prompt health screenings and completion of clinical reminders for patients. Perform other clinical duties as indicated and assigned. Administrative: Participate in program development activities, including data collection/management, policy development/adherence, and documentation, as indicated by section and service leadership. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, as well as pain committee and other pain meetings (e.g., data-based risk reviews), as indicated by section and service leadership. Participate in intra- and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and projects, as requested by section and service leadership. Academic/Teaching/Training: Provide supervision, education and training to Medical Center trainees, including residents, students and interns/fellows. Actively supports the Pain Medicine fellowship program with George Washington University by providing formal education, training and supervision of physician pain medicine fellows. Provide didactics/lectures to medical staff within the area of pain management, specifically pain-focused interventions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact 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 to Friday 8:00am EST to 4:30pm EST

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 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. 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