Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & 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 ineligible to apply.

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:

• Citizenship: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) encourages any eligible non-citizens to apply
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: 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
• Licensure: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - OR 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
• Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Experience: The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician - have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision
• Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs - and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine
• Preferred Experience: Board Eligible/Board Certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching - standing - walking - and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care
• This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level - during the provision of patient care - including retrieval of needed equipment - supplies and to make contact with the patient
• This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care
• This position is typically non-sedentary - and frequently involves being in the standing position
• This position requires moving about accomplish tasks - such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next
• This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position
• Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next - i.e.- from the exam table to the chair - and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Duties

• This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year - up to four years) - and the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) to pay up to $200 -000 in qualifying loans! In addition - salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics
• The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for one full-time - board eligible/board certified psychiatrist who is value-driven - recovery-oriented - and possesses energy - compassion - and a pursuit of excellence to join our Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team
• They will provide services to Veterans in a BHIP/Outpatient team setting that will include multi-disciplinary approaches
• The psychiatrist will provide independent care delivery for both chronic and acute/same day psychiatric needs - including but not limited to trauma- and stressor-related disorders - mood disorders - psychotic disorders - anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders - substance use disorders - neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD - neurocognitive disorders with behavioral disturbances - and other disorders described in the most recent publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM)
• Major Duties and Responsibilities: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions to units/programs in the Medical Center to which the psychiatrist is assigned and has clinical privileges to practice including diagnostic assessment - medication evaluation and management - suicide risk assessments - crisis intervention - and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders - including depression - anxiety - psychosis - PTSD - substance abuse - and other psychiatric disorders in various clinical settings including the outpatient - inpatient - emergency department Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs - including community resources - are accomplished
• This may include referrals to other Mental Health Programs (i.e. - Mental Health Clinic - Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program - Neuropsychology - PTSD Clinic - Mental Health Intensive Case Management - Compensated Work Therapy - Homeless services - Vocational Rehabilitation)
• Performs psychiatric evaluations for a diverse population of patients of males - females - geriatric - and post deployment combat veterans who are mentally ill and have psychosocial issues that may include homelessness - unemployment - and poor family support network The Staff Psychiatrist is a LIP who practices based on his/her specific approved privileges - guidance derived from VHA - Medical Center Bylaws and Service Directives/MCMS and is under the supervision of the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Chief Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care Participation on coverage partner teams for leave planning considerations Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff Involved in the supervision and teaching of psychiatry residents and other trainees assigned to unit as appropriate On call responsibilities for weekend and night coverage on a rotational basis VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office Learn more
• 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 - 8am to 430pm
• Occasional coverage for inpatient/emergency department as a back up provider.