Physician Ambulatory Care - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive and EDRP Authorized

VA North Texas Health Care System Physician (MD/DO) Compensation and Pension Section, Employee Health, and the Pact Act registries is responsible for upholding all established policies, standards of care, and best practices in the evaluation, assessment, tracking, and follow-up of patient care.

The physician collaborates with healthcare professionals to support assigned patients, utilize evidenced based care when providing medical care for Employee Health patients, ensuring independent and timely delivery of care.

The physician's primary responsibility will be to support the Compensation and Pension Section, with additional duties as an alternate provider for Employee Occupational Health (EOH) and Pact Act clinics.

The incumbent ensures full compliance with Medical Center and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and directives governing these programs.

Major Duties/Responsibilities Conduct comprehensive medical examinations for compensation and pension claims, with a focus on thorough disability evaluation and accurate determination of benefit eligibility. Provide objective, evidence-based medical opinions regarding the existence, severity, and service connection of claimed conditions.

Communicate findings clearly in written reports following regulatory guidelines suitable for use in legal and administrative proceedings to adjudicate the assigned claim.

In the role of Employee and Occupational Health (EOH) Physician, determine medical clearances, advise on workplace health and safety, support employees in achieving health maintenance goals, and provide medical and rehabilitative services to facilitate prompt return to duty.

Deliver direct patient care, including but not limited to: conducting history and physical examinations, ordering and evaluating diagnostic tests, and completing clinical reminders as applicable. Ensure all medical information is accurately and timely documented in the electronic medical record system.

Perform other related duties as assigned, in accordance with departmental and organizational needs. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN17EDRP2@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M., with occasional Saturday clinics or weekday extended-hour clinics; however, subject to change depending on the needs of the service/medical center.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.

Exceptions: 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 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.

In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.

Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Experienced Compensation & Pension, Environmental Health Registry exam, and/or Employee Occupational Health examiner. Proven leadership skills with a track record of successfully managing/collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, to support organizational priorities.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, essential for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, patients, and external stakeholders. Expertise in quality improvement initiatives, patient safety protocols, and the integration of evidence-based practices to enhance care delivery.

In-depth knowledge of VA policies, regulations, and systems, or equivalent experience in a comparable healthcare setting, to effectively navigate and lead within the VA framework.

Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and a vision for advancing services in alignment with the mission of the VA North Texas Health Care System. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Physical requirements included but are not limited to: moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable (at 13" to 16" to jaeger 1 to 4), far vision correctable ( in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other), hearing (aid permitted), emotional and mental stability, and clear speech.

Environmental Factors Factors consist of: excessive noise, intermittent, working around moving objects or vehicles, working closely with others, working alone, and protracted or irregular hours of work.