Career Center

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. 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 certified. 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: Yes. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The Primary Care Mental Health (PCMHI) psychiatrist provides outpatient consultative psychiatric services including direct patient care as well as indirect chart-based/e-consultation services in support of the primary care team (PACT). An integral part of the inter-professional team, the psychiatrist is co-located within the primary care setting and works closely with PCMHI team and PACT members to address the mental and behavior health needs of the primary care population. Strong knowledge of psychopharmacology and evidence-based practices are preferred. Medical care is provided in accordance with the approved privileges and all applicable State and/or Federal guidelines in support of the Mental Health Service at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Duties and responsibilities are but not limited to: Routine Duties: Screen, evaluate, and admit/enroll patients to various mental health programs as well as transfer to primary care as clinically appropriate along the continuum of care. Direct consultative patient evaluation and treatment via face to face or telehealth care as well as indirect chart-based/e-consultation in a team-based model within the primary care setting. These include but are not limited to: Same day evaluations/warm hand-offs. Care manager supervision. Crisis intervention. Psychopharmacology. Serves in a consultation/liaison role with other mental health programs to facilitate coordination of care. Ongoing support of the primary care teams and other PCMHI team members in evaluation and management of their patients including \"curbside\" consultation. Patient education. Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms, (EKGs), etc. including HIV tests and evaluate results of such tests, as indicated. Provide psychiatric on-call coverage and prescribe Clozapine, as indicated Completing functional assessments/evaluations (including the mental status evaluation). Prescribe evidenced-based pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders including but not limited to those for tobacco, alcohol, opioid use disorders. Initiate and refill prescriptions for all applicable medications. Carry out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making. Write orders and notes in CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System). Administer and document Suicide Risk Assessment in CPRS. Telephone consultation with patients and family members. Function as member of assigned committees, task forces, and investigative teams. Attend Mental Health Program and Mental Health Service meetings as assigned. Teach and supervise medical students, PA students, psychiatry (and as needed, residents from other specialties) residents and fellows, and NP students. Faculty appointment(s) may be required. Modality of care may include telehealth from a VA owned/leased facility or telehealth from the provider's home directly into the Veteran's home. (Contingent on approval of Chief of Psychiatry). Non-routine but Non-Emergency Duties: Group psychotherapy. Marital and family counseling/therapy. Provide psychiatric Consultation-Liaison coverage, as assigned. When covering inpatient section (via on-call rotation), provide medical diagnoses, assessments, laboratory workups and treatments within the scope of knowledge and privileges and in keeping with the needs of psychiatric patients. When covering inpatient section: Provide daily medical care to patients whose medical conditions do not require the expertise of a medicine or surgical consultant. Initiate and expedite requests for consultations and special tests/studies throughout the day-not just \"sick-call\" hours. (i.e. address ongoing medical issues of inpatient/residential patients). Complete consults to appropriate referrals as warranted. (i.e. medicine consults). Transfer patients (to and from) other bed services (e.g., Medicine, Surgery) as necessary, or transfer (to and from) or discharge to other VA Medical Centers or other facilities, as appropriate. Screen inpatients to determine need for further health care. When working on an inpatient unit: Perform initial/periodic histories and physical examinations (including vital signs) on psychiatric inpatients. Evaluate detoxification needs of inpatients and provide necessary medical management of the withdrawal or intoxicated state. Emergency Duties: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (i.e. utilizing BLS skills-current certification is required for credentialing). Treatment of acute respiratory failure (i.e. utilizing BLS skills). Treatment of life-threatening traumatic injury (i.e. utilizing basic first aid and BLS skills). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with nights and weekends. Department's discretion.\nCompressed/Flexible: Flexible work schedule. Department's discretion.\nTelework: Yes, up to 50% telework and 50% must be at the assigned location.\nVirtual: No"]