Qualifications

Coverage: The following are the overall requirements for appointment as a physician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C. 7407(a)).] Education
• 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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Licensure and Registration: Physicians must possess a 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
• The physician must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure
• 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) 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
• Board Certification: Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA
• however, three circumstances in VA require physician board certification: If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or physician residents (including fellows), the LCME, ACGME or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply
• If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example, in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools), then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position
• If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example, as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine), then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone, retrieving files, writing reports, data entry and maintenance of computer databases, etc
• Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer
• This position may require occasional travel
• The position requires periods of walking, standing, sitting and bending
• English Language Proficiency: Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Preferred Experience: Incumbent will have sufficient clinical knowledge and experience to monitor and assess clinical competencies and practices Sufficient interpersonal skills to deal harmoniously with a diverse population of internal and external customers Sufficient time management skills to prioritize completion of a high volume workload Board certified or eligible in general psychiatry practice
• Ability to achieve results in the setting of constrained resources Incumbent must have a demonstrated ability to meet the responsibilities of this position Completion of a Residency in Psychiatry as accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or nationally accredited training program, including the training required for graduation
• The Service Chief determines the adequacy of the provider's experience/competence to support the granting of privileges based on both recent and remote experience
• Must be willing to participate in VISN programs and meetings as necessary
• Must be willing to participate in Psych on-call Knowledge and skill to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patients, as well as overall knowledge of the management of an array of mental health and substance abuse disorders, while not necessarily being expert in any one area
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately
• Will provide patient care services to a wide range of veterans with ages ranging from teenage to geriatric
• The incumbent must have the ability to assess the patient's specific age related need(s)
• He/she must also have knowledge of the human growth, development, and aging process and understanding the treatment needed by different age groups
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy and VHA policy
• Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion
• Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement that the employee signs
• Annually completes 40 hours of continuing education, including mandatory computer modules Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.