Physician - Medical Director - Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Youngstown, OH

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting a Physician - Medical Director for Primary Care Service. The role provides comprehensive, compassionate primary care to Veterans and includes significant responsibility for clinic operations and oversight. The Medical Director supervises multiple attending providers while maintaining an independent patient panel, and leads a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) composed of a physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate. The position is assigned to a specific location, though occasional patient-care or administrative duties may be requested at the main hospital or another site.

The physician provides clinical examinations, diagnoses, and treatment for acute and chronic conditions; preventive care; coordination of care; and documentation in clinical records. Duties include history taking, physical examinations, ordering laboratory and diagnostic studies, and developing treatment plans within the scope of medical practice. The physician refers patients to specialists when care falls outside their experience or training, and participates in a multidisciplinary treatment team that may include social work, pharmacy, mental health, nutrition, and other services.

The Medical Director monitors PACT teamlet performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and VA performance measures. The role also provides input into clinic development projects, supports excellent customer service, and leads the team in working with patient advocates and administration to address patient concerns and inquiries. The physician is expected to demonstrate strong medical knowledge, leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to elicit cooperation from staff and community members.

The posted schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A recruitment incentive may be available to highly qualified applicants. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements and approval; the potential award is up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years. VA lists competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, paid time off, retirement benefits, insurance, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice protection with tail coverage. No Physician Employment Contract applies, and there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or 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 qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty training program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an accepted equivalent training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Strong medical knowledge and excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from others.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• At least 2 years of recent experience treating acutely and chronically ill patients in a full-time primary care setting is listed as preferred experience, not a basic requirement.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2 years of recent experience treating the acute and chronically ill in a full-time primary care setting.
• Board certification may be relevant for physicians involved in academic training programs; CME reimbursement is noted as available for full-time physicians with board certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive primary care to an assigned panel of Veterans, including history taking, physical examinations, laboratory and diagnostic orders, diagnosis, and treatment planning for acute and chronic conditions.
• Provide clinical examinations, diagnoses, and treatment for acute and chronic diseases, preventive care, and coordination of care.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of patient care in clinical records.
• Refer patients to specialists when additional input or treatment is outside the physician’s experience or training.
• Oversee clinic operations and supervise multiple attending providers while maintaining an independent patient panel.
• Lead a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) consisting of a physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate.
• Monitor PACT teamlet performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and VA performance measures.
• Contribute input to projects related to clinic development.
• Promote outstanding customer service and lead the team in assisting patient advocates and administration to resolve patient concerns and inquiries.
• Participate as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, including services such as social work, pharmacy, mental health, and nutrition.
• Assist with patient care or administrative duties at the main hospital or another site when requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential award up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• Potential recruitment incentive (sign-on bonus) for highly qualified applicants.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible 5-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• No significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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