Physician - Community Living Center Medical Director

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane County, WA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Living Center (CLC) Medical Director provides administrative and clinical leadership and direct patient care within the CLC. The CLC offers skilled nursing, long-term care, hospice and palliative care, and rehabilitation services. The Medical Director delivers care directly or through supervision of CLC-assigned providers and medical trainees in inpatient and outpatient settings. Care may also be provided in community nursing homes, Veterans’ homes, or outpatient clinics as needed.

The role includes coordinating coverage across CLC units, supporting safe and appropriate admissions and effective bed utilization, mentoring clinical staff, and contributing to quality reviews, competency evaluations, training, audits, committee work, and interdisciplinary projects. Participation in the HPT educational program is the default.

The position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be approved; this is not a virtual position. A recruitment incentive may be authorized for eligible, highly qualified applicants, and a relocation incentive may be authorized for eligible, highly qualified current VA employees. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its eligibility and application requirements. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including salary and benefits described in the announcement.

Requirements

• Doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of residency training meeting the VA’s stated requirements, including an accredited core specialty training program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least three years of clinical experience after residency in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or a related field.
• One year of leadership experience in a clinical setting.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Extensive walking, standing, or sitting for up to 10–12 hours daily; home-setting care may require bending, lifting, and twisting. Emergency situations may require running or sprinting, and night or inclement-weather driving may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Specialization in Geriatrics, Rehabilitation, or Palliative Medicine.
• Experience with skilled nursing facilities or program development.
• Prior involvement in education programs with students and residents.
• Board certification, required for the stated possible CME reimbursement.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and clinical leadership and direct patient care within the Community Living Center.
• Deliver or supervise care provided by CLC-assigned providers and medical trainees in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Evaluate and manage adults with single or multiple disorders across subspecialties, with a focus on geriatric medicine.
• Provide admission history and physical examinations, daily patient management, discharge summaries, discharge planning, and family conferences.
• Provide care outside the CLC when needed, including in community nursing homes, Veterans’ homes, and outpatient clinics.
• Arrange routine and emergency medical coverage across all CLC units.
• Work with the CLC Screening Committee to support safe, appropriate admissions, optimal bed utilization, and process transparency.
• Mentor physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to support quality of care.
• Manage clinical schedules to ensure adequate coverage and effective use of resources.
• Participate in peer reviews, competency evaluations including OPPE and FPPE, and chart reviews.
• Contribute to training programs for medical students, residents, fellows, and other trainees; participate in the HPT educational program by default.
• Participate in billing and coding audits to optimize documentation and reimbursement.
• Provide medical expertise during committee discussions and decisions.
• Represent the department in interdisciplinary meetings and projects.
• Address concerns and feedback through the Patient Advocate Tracking System (PATS-R).

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, Federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• Possible recruitment incentive of 15% of annual salary each year for up to three years, with a three-year contractual agreement, for eligible, highly qualified applicants.
• Possible $15,000 lump-sum relocation incentive for eligible, highly qualified current VA employees.
• Eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program review and requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree