Physician (Primary Care)

Veterans Health Administration • New Philadelphia, OH

5d

About The Position

The Physician (Primary Care) provides comprehensive and compassionate primary care to Veterans enrolled in Primary Care. The provider is responsible for a defined patient panel at a specific location and leads a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) consisting of a physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate. The provider may occasionally assist with patient care or administrative duties at the main hospital or another site.

The role includes examining patients; taking histories; ordering laboratory and diagnostic studies; diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions; providing preventive care; coordinating care; documenting services in clinical records; and referring patients to specialists when care falls outside the provider’s scope of experience and training. The physician monitors PACT performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and performance measures. The physician is also expected to provide outstanding customer service, help resolve patient concerns with the patient advocate and administration, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that may include social work, pharmacy, mental health, nutrition, and other services. The role requires strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills and offers input into clinic development projects. Other duties may be assigned.

The position reports to the local medical director or associate chief of staff for primary care, who reports to the Chief of Staff. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; tour-of-duty changes are at the supervisor’s discretion.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The program may provide up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment, and former EDRP participants are not eligible. Recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants; relocation assistance is not authorized. Compensation includes a competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases. The benefits package includes paid leave, federal holidays, federal retirement and 401(k), insurance options, possible CME reimbursement for eligible full-time board-certified physicians, and malpractice protection with tail coverage. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an approved 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 accepted alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Ability to meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, including the ability to elicit cooperation from others.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2 years of recent experience treating acutely and chronically ill patients in a full-time primary care setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical examinations, diagnoses, and treatment for acute and chronic diseases, preventive care, and coordination of care for a panel of primary care patients.
• Take patient histories, perform physical examinations, and order laboratory tests and diagnostic studies.
• Develop treatment plans for acute and chronic conditions within the scope of medical practice.
• Document patient care appropriately in clinical records.
• Refer patients to specialists when additional input or treatment is outside the provider’s experience and training.
• Lead the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), which includes a physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate.
• Monitor PACT team performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and VA performance measures.
• Provide outstanding customer service and assist the patient advocate and administration in resolving patient concerns and inquiries.
• Exercise medical decision-making and provide diagnostic and therapeutic services for an assigned patient group.
• Collaborate with staff, community partners, and a multidisciplinary treatment team, including social work, pharmacy, mental health, and nutrition.
• Occasionally assist with patient care or administrative duties at the main hospital or another site.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with an award of up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
• 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 and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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