Physician - Primary Care

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.

01Basic 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 on an intermittent 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.

In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action. Proficiency in spoken and written English.

02Preferred Experience

2 Years Primary Care with the VA. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

03Physical Requirements

Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

The VA Atlanta Health Care System is recruiting for a Physician (Primary Care) in Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) service. The Physician provides a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The incumbent provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management. A CRH is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve all Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN).

Staff within these CRH are expected to provide interprofessional services to VISN facilities that are underserved or experiencing gaps in clinicians due to the inability to match provider supply with demand. Services provided by CRH staff are conducted via multiple modalities, including virtual and in-person care. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment) Authorized: 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. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Learn more. 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 include, but are not limited to: Provides direct patient care full time and work as a member of an expanded healthcare team (e.g., social worker, psychologist, physical therapist, clinical pharmacists, behavioral health clinician, and a program manager) to oversee and coordinate medical care for a population of Veterans utilizing the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model.

Provides comprehensive care for Veterans for a panel of patients and may see walk-ins. Patients may be enrolled from multiple facilities. Performs initial histories and physical examination on outpatients using CVT technology and/or face-to-face visits. Provides ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients. Prescribes medications within defined scope of practice. Orders diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs).

Reviews the need for and order health promotion and disease prevention measures. Initiates, responds to, and expedites requests for consultations, special tests, and studies. Provides education and counseling of patients and families in pain self-management, active treatment modalities, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Serves as an attending/teaching physician for primary care residents/students as assigned. Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

Attends staff meetings, team meetings, some committee meetings, and complete some peer review evaluations. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff. May provide supervision, education, and training to trainees, including residents, students, and interns/fellows. Participates in intra- and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and projects, as requested by their supervisors. Demonstrates ability to provide didactics/lectures to medical staff within the area of primary care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Occasional Travel: The position requires occasional away from the duty station to provide care to Veterans at other VAMCs, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), or other sites as appropriate to patient care or training needs. If providing locums-type services, the position may require travel for extended periods to another VA Facility, CBOC or other site as appropriate to patient care.