Physician - Pain & Addiction Provider

Veterans Health Administration • Jackson, MS

20h

About The Position

The Pain & Addiction Provider delivers pain and addiction services to Veterans, with particular focus on evaluating and treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or making individualized treatment recommendations. As the Addiction Medicine expert on the facility’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Pain Management Team, the provider serves as a subject matter expert on addiction care for patients living with chronic pain and advises leadership on standards of care for psychiatric conditions in this population.

The provider delivers ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients under VHA policies and evidence-based treatment guidelines. The role includes consultations and history and physical examinations through in-person, telephone, and virtual encounters; screening outpatients and determining further care needs; prescribing medications within the defined scope of practice; ordering diagnostic studies; and initiating or expediting consultation and scheduling requests. The provider also educates and counsels patients and families about preventive care, medical conditions, and prescribed treatments and medications, and treats pain complaints and symptoms associated with substance use disorders in complex cases alongside other pain staff, following the VHA Stepped Care Model of Pain.

The work schedule is 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and is negotiable. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program requirements and approval. VA compensation and benefits described in the announcement include competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid time off, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited school.
• 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 program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an alternative training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including drug testing for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Meet the applicable VA physician qualification requirements; applicants pending completion of training or licensure requirements cannot be hired until those requirements are met.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in pain management.
• Experience with rehabilitation modalities of care, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physical medicine.
• Experience treating Opioid Use Disorder and other Substance Use Disorders.
• Experience with needle interventions, such as peripheral joint injections, spinal injections with fluoroscopy, and/or acupuncture; this is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide pain and addiction services, particularly evaluation and treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), or individualized recommendations for OUD care.
• Serve as the facility CARA Pain Management Team’s Addiction Medicine subject matter expert for addiction care among patients with chronic pain, and advise leadership on standards of care for psychiatric conditions in this population.
• Provide ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients in accordance with VHA policies and evidence-based treatment guidelines.
• Perform consultations, including history and physical examinations, during in-person, telephone, and virtual encounters.
• Screen outpatients to determine whether further care is needed and prescribe medications within the defined scope of practice.
• Order diagnostic studies, such as X-rays, laboratory tests, and ECGs, and initiate or expedite consultation requests and scheduling for special tests and studies.
• Educate and counsel patients and families on preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• Treat pain complaints and symptoms associated with substance use disorders in complex cases alongside other pain staff, following the VHA Stepped Care Model of Pain.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan repayment, with potential award up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program approval.
• 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 five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• 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 Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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