Physician - Psychiatrist

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

1d

About The Position

The Western NY Healthcare System is seeking an experienced, full-time Psychiatrist to provide behavioral health services across the facility, including outpatient clinics, inpatient units, primary care, the emergency department, and substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, and community day programs. Services may be provided face-to-face or through tele-mental health to multiple locations, including community-based outpatient clinics.

The Psychiatrist assesses patients, diagnoses mental disorders, develops and documents treatment plans, and takes professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, care decisions, and documentation. The position also involves patient and family education, consultation with professional staff, assistance with clinical programs and regulatory compliance, quality-of-care planning and evaluation, and coordination with other health care programs. The Psychiatrist participates in Medical Center strategic planning, staff and committee meetings, and required documentation, performance-measure, and peer-review processes.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility rules and application review. The program may provide up to $200,000 in student loan repayment for an eligibility period of one to five years. EDRP approval, award amount, and eligibility period are determined by the VHA program office; former EDRP participants are ineligible. The position offers a competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid time off, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice protection with tail coverage. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an approved 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 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.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including drug screening for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking EDRP, and meet applicable VHA eligibility requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychiatric assessments and diagnose mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients, in person or through tele-mental health services at locations including community-based outpatient clinics.
• Educate patients, family members, and significant others.
• Consult with professional staff regarding clinical assessment findings and appropriate patient treatment plans.
• Develop, implement, and document treatment plans for an assigned caseload.
• Assume professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, timely health care screening, and clinical reminder completion.
• Assist with implementation of clinical programs.
• Help ensure the facility meets standards issued by accrediting and regulatory groups and VA Headquarters.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement quality clinical care through analysis and evaluation using multiple methods and tools.
• Participate in mental health components of the Medical Center Strategic Plan.
• Follow CPRS documentation procedures, including documentation timeliness and patient check-out procedures such as entering diagnostic and procedure codes.
• Coordinate services by liaising with other health care programs.
• Attend administrative and informational meetings held by the BH Careline Manager or designee, COS, and facility Director.
• Attend regular behavioral health staff meetings, Medical Staff and facility committee meetings as assigned, and comply with Psychiatry peer-review procedures.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential student loan repayment of up to $200,000 for one to five years, subject to eligibility and 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 federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• 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 physicians with board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

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