Psychiatrist (Primary Care Mental Health Integration)

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

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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the position

A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Duties

The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) psychiatrist position is a component of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

The PCMHI psychiatrist functions as a consultant supporting Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and other PACT colleagues to address the mental health needs of the primary care population

GENERAL CLINICAL 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 outpatient - inpatient - and ED - settings

Ensures the practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with Joint Commission - CARF - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice psychiatric guidelines - VISN standards - national statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - mandatory continuing education - and HIPPA policies

Participates in supervision and teaching in support of the psychiatric residency program - performs on call duties - and other directly related duties as assigned

PCMHI CLINICAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT: Collaborates with PCPs and PACT team to support high quality - effective - and coordinated service delivery

Conducts brief functionally-oriented - psychiatric assessments that are targeted to the reason(s) for referral and less extensive than traditional psychiatric evaluations (consistent with 2014 VHA Memorandum)

Ensures quality of care by successfully completing the national VA PCMHI Competency Training Program (or approved equivalent) and associated ongoing education modules

CLINICAL COMPETENCE: Examinations - Uses appropriate clinical - laboratory and other pertinent data examine new patients

Provides follow-up when indicated

Answers Mental Health consult requests when required

Diagnosis - Accurately interprets clinical data for the purpose of determining diagnosis and treatment

Formulates assessment and plan according to accepted protocols

Corrects diagnosis when necessary

Therapeutic Ability - Initiates appropriate and timely treatment

Recognizes changes in behavior - symptoms - signs - and other pertinent facts about patients and modifies treatment plan when indicated

Prescribes medications according to outpatient formulary

Provides direct - short-term - crisis intervention - and brief psychotherapy

Counsels patients on smoking - alcohol and/or other substance cessation

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS Practices independently in day-to-day program activities

Supervised by Chief of Psychiatry for the Durham VA Health Care System Mental and Behavioral Health Service (MBHS) - or designee

The Chief of Psychiatry - or designee - is the administrative Supervisor and conducts performance evaluations

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package

VHA Physician Total Rewards

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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 for incentive

Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact Byron.Collins@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized to highly qualified candidates 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 - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm with occasional weekend and evening call