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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: Completed ACGME accredited residency in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Preferred Experience: Candidates for the PACT/Primary Care and Pain Management PACT should possess the skills outlined below with specific experience in the area of primary care
• Candidates should have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive management responsibilities
• Have a valid DEA license with X-waiver
• Reference: See VA Handbook - Part II - Appendix G 2.For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions
• Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices - heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers - both hands required - walking or standing up to 4 hours per day
• repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
• near vision correctable
• hearing aid permitted
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Primary Care/PACT-Pain clinician delivers evidence-based comprehensive management through direct patient care and as part of the interdisciplinary PACT/Primary Care team providing care of acute and all chronic medical problems and Pain Management
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes (e.g
• establishing and progressing towards individualized function-related goals - improving quality of life - minimizing theoretical risk of drug-related harm) through direct and indirect interactions with patients - sub-specialities - and interdisciplinary team in Primary Care
• performing physical examinations
• implementing risk mitigation strategies and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• The PACT clinician manages initiating - medication therapy by modifying and discontinuing medication both independently and in collaboration with other practitioners when needed (e.g. - buprenorphine prescribing for Opioid Use Disorder - controlled substances)
• FUNCTIONS: Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities: Maintains and promotes high ethical - clinical - and administrative standards that are carried into the decision-making process
• Provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient
• Incumbent must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served
• Functions as a physician for Primary Care services to achieve defined outcomes through direct interactions with patients and other clinicians within PACT/Primary Care team at the Kernersville HCC location - which may include - but are not limited to: Provides primary care services as specified in his/her clinical privileges
• Services include new patient evaluations and ongoing monitoring through follow up visits
• Procedures such as joint injections - battlefield acupuncture are preferred but not required
• Prescribes - monitors - and adjusts medications related to chronic disease state and pain management Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness - drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomes as required
• Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate recommendations for alternatives to current treatment plans as needed
• Provides input and recommendations as the pain expert on the interdisciplinary pain management team during routine patient care planning
• Documents clinical interventions and patient care encounters in the electronic health record in a timely and professional manner as appropriate
• Works with team members to ensure compliance with national - VISN - and local initiatives (e.g. - OSI) Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care
• Provide recommendations and work with the interdisciplinary team to coordinate care to provide optimal functioning - level of pain - and quality of life for Veterans
• Be accessible and available to personnel in the PACT team for consultation on complex cases
• Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements
• Ability to lead Process/Performance Improvement (PI) - and quality assurance initiatives for primary care and pain related care delivery
• Research: (when applicable) Participates in design and/or completion of research studies and/or quality improvement projects involving drug therapy - clinical pharmacy functions - or improvements in patient care
• Directs and/or participates in the preparation of articles for publication
• Program Management and Administration: Participates and facilitates departmental and organizational compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) - Office of General Counsel (OIG) - and other applicable regulatory and accreditation regulations and guidelines regarding patient safety and care
• Supports efforts to improve performance metrics specific to pain management
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by committee membership - barrier resolution - active problem resolution skills - and close cooperation with other services in accomplishing the medical center mission and goals
• Collaborates with the Salisbury VA Facility Pain Management Coordinator (PMOP) - Pain consultant (POC) - Facility Pain Champions to maintain best pain practices Participates in various hospital committees - department and hospital in-service programs and acquire CMEs as required.