The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is currently recruiting for a full-time Primary Care/Pain Champion Physician at the Austin VA Clinic, Austin, Texas. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) 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. 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 and Registration: 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), b) 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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Experience providing comprehensive care to patients such as services in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of assigned/unassigned patients with acute care needs. Experience providing effective medical treatment, consultation, and diagnosis upon request from other Services/Departments. Experience in women's health care duties to include, assessment and treatment of patients, including pelvic examinations, pap smears and other related gender-specific healthcare of women, reviews diagnostic studies and reports abnormal findings. Experience ordering appropriate tests and incorporate results for treatment plan. As well as initiating or expediting requests for consults, special tests, or studies. At least one year of expierence treating chronic pain within a primary care context. Familiarity of using buprenorphine for pain and/or substance use disorder. 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (4-6hours); Standing (4-6hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted). ["The Primary Care/Pain Champion Physician will provide 75% for primary care and 25% PACT pain champion services to work jointly in collaboration with the VISN and Primary Care Services. Primary Care Physicians are responsible for providing Comprehensive Primary Care for Veterans. The primary care physician should, in the context of a longitudinal relationship, fulfill all primary care needs, including acute and chronic illness, gender- specific PC, mental health (Screen for conditions such as depression, substance use/ abuse, military sexual trauma and PTSD, and evaluate and treat uncomplicated mental health disorders as well as substance use disorders and refer patients appropriately for further evaluation and treatment of sexual assault and military sexual trauma, mental health disorders and substance use disorders) and preventative care (age-appropriate cancer screening e.g., colon, breast and cervical cancer - as well as weight management counseling, Chlamydia screening (when indicated), smoking cessation and immunizations, etc.) along with coordination of care delivery (when specialty care is needed, the primary care physician will coordinate this care and communicate with the specialty physician regarding the evaluation and treatment plan to ensure continuity of care) The Facility PACT Pain Champion will be supported by the VISN PMOP Coordinator and VISN PACT Pain Champion to assist with sharing of strong practices and implementation strategies within the VISN. The Pain Champion will collaborate with VISN pain leadership and primary care physicians. They will also support and consult with other primary care providers for proper pain management and be a subject matter expert in pain management within primary care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized, see details in \"Education Section\" 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"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.