Physician (Psychiatrist)

Summary

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until 09/30/2027.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Position(s) listed under this Open Continuous Announcement MAY be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants selected for an EDRP-eligible position will be notified in their conditional job offer. The selectee must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Recruitment / Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized to a highly qualified candidate Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], 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 and Responsibilities: The Psychiatrist serves as a core member of a multidisciplinary mental health team providing comprehensive psychiatric services to Veterans receiving care in both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. The psychiatrist is responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and coordination of care for patients with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including acute, chronic, and complex mental health conditions. Key duties include but are not limited to: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including psychiatric history, mental status examinations, diagnostic assessments, and treatment planning for Veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Provide ongoing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment for mental health conditions within the psychiatrist's scope of practice, including management of acute psychiatric crises and stabilization of complex psychiatric presentations. Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case conferences, and care coordination activities to ensure continuity of care across inpatient and outpatient services. Serve as the prescribing provider for assigned Veterans and collaborate with psychologists, social workers, nurses, peer support specialists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to deliver integrated, Veteran-centered care. Assess and manage psychiatric emergencies, including suicide risk, homicide risk, behavioral disturbances, and other urgent mental health concerns, utilizing appropriate interventions and levels of care. Facilitate transitions of care between inpatient and outpatient settings, ensuring timely follow-up, treatment continuity, medication reconciliation, and coordination with community and VA resources. Document clinical care in the electronic health record (EHR) in a timely, accurate, and professional manner in accordance with VA policy and professional standards. Provide clinical consultation to mental health providers, primary care providers, medical and surgical teams, and other staff as needed. Support measurement-based care, population health initiatives, and performance improvement activities, including responding to clinical alerts, abnormal screenings, and patient-reported outcomes. Engage in suicide prevention and risk reduction practices, including completion of Suicide Risk Assessments, Safety Plans, and appropriate clinical documentation. Maintain compliance with all applicable VA policies, Joint Commission standards, accreditation requirements, and professional practice standards. Participate in peer review, quality improvement, performance improvement, and other professional activities as assigned. Provide clinical supervision, education, mentorship, and consultation to psychiatry residents, trainees, and other clinical staff, fostering professional development, clinical competency, adherence to evidence-based practices, and the delivery of high-quality patient care, as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Friday, Subject to change based on the needs of the agency.

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 requir