Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine
• The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
• (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Competent in the management of individuals with a broad range of clinical problems to include posttraumatic stress disorder - traumatic brain injury - substance abuse disorders - and mood - anxiety and psychotic disorders
• Reference: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching - standing - walking - and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care
• This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level - during the provision of patient care - including retrieval of needed equipment - supplies and to make contact with the patient
• This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care
• This position is typically non-sedentary - and frequently involves being in the standing position
• This position requires moving about accomplish tasks - such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next
• This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position
• Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next - i.e.- from the exam table to the chair - and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Duties

• The Supervisory Psychiatrist - Inpatient Section functions as a section chief within Behavioral Health Service for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
• As the Inpatient Section Chief - the incumbent is the discipline lead and is responsible for all professional aspects related to the Inpatient Patient section
• S/he assists the ACOS of Behavioral Health and Chief Psychiatrist in the overall operation of Behavioral Health Service and has direct supervisory responsibility over the Inpatient section
• Primary Duties Of The Psychiatrist Include: Serves as the Chief Psychiatrist of a 2 floor - 52 bed - Behavioral Health Unit
• Serves as a member of the Behavioral Health leadership team
• Responsible for the oversight of inpatient psychiatric services
• Supervises 3 Psychiatrists - 2 CRNP's - and Physician Assistants
• Responsible for proficiency reports - personnel actions - recruitment - retention and training of staff
• Ensures quality - safety and value of psychiatric services via ongoing professional practice evaluations - medical records reviews and support of staff in implementing evidence-based practice
• Works collaboratively with nursing - social work - creative arts - chaplaincy and other professional colleagues to ensure optimal care to the Veterans
• Participates in behavioral health leadership meetings and hospital committees
• Psychiatric assessment
• diagnosis and treatment planning
• Responsible for oversight and coordination of clinical psychiatric care on the inpatient unit - as well as intake and discharge processes
• Ensures SOP's - policies - procedures - memorandums and regulations are current
• Psychiatric treatment to mentally ill veterans - recruits - students - active duty personnel - dependents - retirees
• Medication Management
• Completion of fitness for duty evaluations psychiatric assessments for all active duty personnel
• Psychiatry resident education/teaching activities
• Participation in Physician Peer Review
• Participation in Performance Improvement activities
• and Participates in and facilitates research
• Major Duties And Responsibilities Include: Performs psychiatric evaluations for a diverse population - including geriatric and post deployment combat Veterans - who are mentally ill and have psychosocial issues such as homelessness - unemployment - and poor family support network
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including diagnostic assessment - medication evaluation and management - suicide risk assessments - crisis intervention - and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders
• Ensures practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with TJC - CARF - HIPPA - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice guidelines - and national statutes and regulations
• Also ensures - medical record documentation - and mandatory continuing education is consistent with required regulations and VA policies
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• The Psychiatrist may serve as a mental health team leader with responsibilities for coordinating consults and triage of specialty clinic referrals
• Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care
• Orders diagnostic tests and consultations and discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions
• May participate in supervision and teaching in support of the psychiatric residency program - performs on call duties - and performs other directly related duties as assigned
• Areas which the psychiatrist is assigned and has clinical privileges to practice may include managing depression - anxiety - psychosis - PTSD - substance abuse - and other psychiatric disorders in inpatient clinical settings
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Recruitment Incentive: Authorized Relocation Incentive: Authorized Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM