Physician- Home Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Wenatchee, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physician provides home-based primary care to patients directly or through supervision of residents in home or institutional settings, including assisted living. The role provides medical care and clinical oversight for the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) team, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, outcome measurement, medication and therapeutic management, and coordination of hospital admissions, referrals, and transitions of care. The Physician works with the HBPC Medical Director, Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) leadership, and the HBPC Program Coordinator to meet program requirements, and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members and other VA leaders on patient care and program development.

The position also includes administrative and leadership responsibilities for HBPC and GEC programs, participation in accreditation reviews and site visits, and academic activities when applicable. The Physician may serve as acting Medical Director when needed and is responsible for arranging physician coverage and communicating coverage plans. The position requires adherence to VA policies and regulations, infection-control standards, and safe equipment and government-vehicle practices.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility and approval. The announced potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved and 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 an approved accredited core specialty residency leading to board-certification eligibility, or an explicitly listed qualifying alternative pathway of training and independent practice.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Meet applicable background, security, pre-employment physical examination, drug-screening, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Comply with application requirements in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Geriatric Medicine.
• Experience collaborating with and mentoring advanced practice providers.
• Primary care experience with older adults and Veterans with multiple chronic conditions, ideally in home-based primary care, house calls, long-term care, or geriatrics.
• Experience managing complex multimorbidity, including heart failure, COPD, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.
• Experience with transitions of care, including timely follow-up after emergency department visits and hospital discharges, medication reconciliation, and documented plans.
• Experience with polypharmacy management and deprescribing, such as use of Beers Criteria, in partnership with clinical pharmacy.
• Experience conducting goals-of-care and life-sustaining treatment conversations and making palliative care and hospice referrals.
• Experience leading an interdisciplinary team and providing clear clinical direction to RN care managers and other disciplines.
• Documentation demonstrating assessment and medical decision-making for each problem addressed.
• Experience with telehealth, including VA Video Connect, combined with in-person nursing visits.
• Rural practice experience and comfort covering a large geographic area by government vehicle, including in winter conditions.
• Accurate coding for home and telehealth visits.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care directly or supervise residents providing care in homes and institutional settings such as assisted living.
• Perform administrative duties and provide leadership and direction for GEC development and HBPC programs; interface effectively with GEC staff.
• Participate in accreditation processes, reviews, and site visits.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat healthcare problems and evaluate outcomes.
• Initiate and adjust therapeutic regimens; perform histories and physical examinations; order diagnostic and therapeutic tests and studies; and initiate consults and referrals.
• Prescribe medications and supplies in accordance with VA policy and formulary, federal and state regulations, and scope of practice.
• Provide leadership and creative management approaches for complex patient care.
• Be responsible for medical care delivered by the HBPC team and provide clinical input and oversight for patient treatment plans.
• Collaborate with the HBPC Medical Director, GEC Section Chief, and HBPC Program Coordinator to meet program requirements.
• Maintain a faculty appointment and participate in academic activities with affiliated medical schools or residency programs when applicable.
• Be available to HBPC team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise.
• Participate in HBPC interdisciplinary team meetings and keep the team apprised of medical advances and practice standards.
• Arrange physician coverage and communicate coverage plans to the HBPC team.
• Collaborate with other HBPC physicians, VISN leadership, and VA Central Office staff on program development issues.
• Serve as acting Medical Director in the Medical Director’s absence.
• Determine the need for and facilitate hospital admissions.
• Comply with Medical Center and VHA regulations governing government vehicles.
• Follow infection-control practices and ensure the safe use and operation of equipment.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan repayment, subject to eligibility and approval; potential award up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 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 federal insurance 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.

What This Job Offers

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