Physician - Psychiatrist (Substance Use Disorders)

Veterans Health Administration • Kansas City, MO

5d

About The Position

The Physician - Psychiatrist provides psychiatric care, including assessment and treatment of substance use disorders. The psychiatrist may provide or assist residents and nurse practitioners with patient evaluation and treatment, document care in the electronic health record, and cosign resident notes to indicate supervision and concurrence. The role includes assessing substance use disorders and prescribing medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders; the Kansas City VA does not have a methadone clinic.

The position is generally a 40-hour workweek, typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., though hours may vary. Participation in a scheduled on-call rotation is required, including nights, weekends, and holidays, with availability for emergency psychiatric interventions during on-call hours. The psychiatrist must be appropriately credentialed and privileged. Responsibilities may include inpatient or outpatient care, graduate and undergraduate medical education, and scientific research, as appropriate.

The role also requires courteous, respectful customer service; protection of sensitive electronic and printed information under applicable privacy and security requirements; and the ability to provide age-appropriate care to patients served in the assigned unit or area. The position requires a pre-employment physical and specified physical abilities.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) for qualified applicants. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment; approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA program office. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Recruitment/relocation incentives are authorized. The announcement also describes competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, federal retirement and insurance programs, paid time off, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice coverage with tail coverage.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine 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 qualifying alternative training and independent-practice experience as specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination and meet the stated physical requirements, including lifting 15–44 pounds; pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing; kneeling; coordination; specified corrected near and far vision; depth perception; and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades. Hearing aids are permitted.
• Successful completion of required background/security investigation and online onboarding; applicants selected for a testing-designated position are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• 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 in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification in Psychiatry.

Responsibilities

• Provide or assist residents and/or nurse practitioners with evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients.
• Document care appropriately and in a timely manner, generally through a staff progress note in the patient's electronic record.
• Cosign resident notes to indicate supervision and concurrence.
• Assess substance use disorders and prescribe medications for opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders.
• Supervise residents on a scheduled basis.
• Participate in the scheduled on-call rotation and be available for emergency psychiatric interventions during on-call hours.
• Provide inpatient or outpatient care, medical education, and scientific research as appropriate.
• Meet customer needs and communicate with veterans, their representatives, visitors, and VA staff in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Protect sensitive printed and electronic data from unauthorized access, release, loss, alteration, or deletion in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, with a potential award of up to $200,000 for an approved period of one to five years.
• Authorized recruitment/relocation incentives (sign-on bonus).
• 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 federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free 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