This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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. Additional Requirement: Board certification/board eligibility in Pain Medicine and/or Addiction Medicine. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is required. If selected for this position, per VHA Directive 1 177, you must possess current BCLS certification as you will provide direct clinical care to patients in this position. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification is also required if you will direct moderate sedation for pain procedures to a small subset of pain clinic patients. Preferred Experience: Additional Board Certification/board eligibility in Addiction Medicine or other relevant subspecialty is desirable. Experience with buprenorphine and other Medication Assisted Treatment modalities for opioid use disorder is desirable. Prefer at least 2 years of clinical experience as a Pain Medicine Specialist after graduation from an ACGME-accredited pain fellowship. Prefer at least 2 years of experience in a multidisciplinary pain clinic setting. Prefer significant Pain-related academic experience involving learners/trainees. Quality Improvement/clinical research experience preferred. 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: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking, Standing, Kneeling, Repeated bending, Both legs required, 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, Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted) ["The Staff Pain Medicine Specialist practices a majority of the time in the VAPSHCS Pain Clinics, with an integral role as a member of a multidisciplinary Pain team (including psychologists, pharmacists, physical therapists, movement therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists) in the management of veterans with chronic pain. The position requires the pain medicine physician to provide patient care, direction, oversight, administration and leadership in the management of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Incumbent facilitates the national Pain Care model within the facility. Duties to include, but are not limited to: Completes detailed history and physical exams, as well as health inventories and screenings, orders and interprets diagnostic studies and prescribes appropriate medication and other treatment modalities. Develops, evaluates and manages medical treatment plans intended to achieve defined outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life as part of a coordinated multidisciplinary treatment team, focused on safe and sustainable chronic pain care and functional restoration of patients living with chronic pain. Establishes and maintains contact with other care clinicians within and outside the Pain Clinic, specialists, pharmacy and ancillary staff as necessary within the facility and the private sector. Provides evidence-based treatment and education regarding chronic pain management, Pain Clinic Whole Health/Complementary & Integrative Health modalities, and VA Pain Care within the VA and the external community, as applicable. Interacts closely with other clinicians, including physicians, PAs and ARNPs, psychologists, physical therapists, movement therapists, and complementary/integrative health clinicians, in the design of the veteran's pain regimen to achieve optimization of rational and cost-effective pain management. Performs or refers to interventional pain medicine strategies as part of a balanced, multi-disciplinary treatment plan. Demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating complex chronic pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), including providing medication treatment of OUD (e.g., buprenorphine/naloxone) and opioid tapers. Provides care primarily in outpatient settings; provides care in inpatient and residential program settings as necessary. Responds to requests in a timely, professional and service-oriented manner; exhibits flexibility, problem solving skills and serves as a positive agent of change. Provides supervision & training to rotating pain medicine & psychology trainees & newly hired staff. Supports the Pain Clinic's clinical research and other scholarly endeavors. Maintains certification and continuing education as required by qualification standards. Documents all pain management activities and complies with all documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures/encounter completion. Other clinical, administrative, educational, or research duties as determined by the Pain Service Chief. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:30 - 4:00 pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Approved Telework: Authorized: This position is eligible for partial telework, as determined by the needs of the service. This position is not approved to be 100% Virtual/Remote and incumbent must live within commuting distance of the facility. Travel: Yes, You may be expected to travel occasionally for this position (to both campuses of VA Puget Sound, American Lake & Seattle) Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Approved Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Team @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov 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"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.