Physician (Primary Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Willoughby, OH

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting a Physician (Primary Care) to provide comprehensive, compassionate primary care to Veterans. The physician will serve in Primary Care Service, manage a defined panel of patients at an assigned location, and lead a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) composed 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, diagnosing, and treating acute and chronic conditions; providing preventive care; coordinating care; documenting in clinical records; and referring patients to specialists when care is outside the physician’s scope of experience and training. The physician monitors PACT performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and VA performance measures. The physician also supports the resolution of patient concerns and inquiries, contributes input to clinic-development projects, and works as part of a multidisciplinary team that may include social work, pharmacy, mental health, and nutrition.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including paid time off, retirement, insurance, and other benefits. A recruitment or relocation incentive may be available to highly qualified applicants. The position has a Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. work schedule and does not require a Physician Employment Contract; there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

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, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification, or qualifying alternative training and independent-practice experience described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication, and staff and community relations skills, including the ability to elicit cooperation from others.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Subject to background and security investigation; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2 years of recent experience treating acutely and chronically ill patients in a full-time primary care setting.
• Board certification for CME reimbursement eligibility, as described in the benefits information.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive primary care services to a defined panel of patients.
• Take patient histories, perform physical examinations, order laboratory tests and diagnostic studies, diagnose conditions, and formulate treatment plans for acute and chronic conditions within the scope of medicine practice.
• Lead a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) consisting of a physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate.
• Provide clinical examination, diagnosis, and treatment for acute and chronic diseases, preventive care, and coordination of care.
• Document patient care appropriately in clinical records.
• Refer patients to specialists when additional input or treatment outside the physician’s experience and training is required.
• Monitor PACT performance for adherence to VA standards, quality and effectiveness of care, and VA performance measures.
• Lead the team in assisting the patient advocate and administration with resolving patient concerns and inquiries.
• Exercise medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for an assigned patient group.
• Contribute input to projects related to clinic development.
• Collaborate as a member of 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 approved awards of up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years, subject to program review and eligibility.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive (sign-on bonus) may be available to 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.
• 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 can 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.

What This Job Offers

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