Psychiatrist Opportunity providing care to Veterans In

The Alaska VA Healthcare System

The selected candidate practices as a Psychiatrist within the Mental Health Service, which is primarily located within the Social and Behavioral Health Service (S&BHS). Practice may also take place through Tenemental Health Services, at the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Program (MHRRTP), or in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) around the State of Alaska. The Staff Psychiatrist has delineated clinical privileges granted by the Medical Executive Board.

Direct clinical care duties and responsibilities (80% of position) include but are not limited to:

1. Providing direct mental health services for VA patients 80% of total available clinic time or 32 hours per week, or as determined by the Chief of Psychiatry and/or the ACOS, Mental Health;
2. Conducting history and mental status exams on assigned patients;
3. Completing intake assessments and formulating diagnoses;
4. Developing, documenting and updating treatment plans consistent with VHA guidelines and accreditation standards;
5. Participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings;
6. Ordering all necessary laboratory and radiological assessments;
7. Initiating and following up with consults/referrals as indicated;
8. Providing psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy as indicated;
9. Prescribing medications and supplies in accordance with VHA guidelines, state regulations and scope of practice;
10. Maintaining effective and up-to-date documentation of patient encounters;
11. Completing pertinent clinical reminders during scheduled appointments;
12. Providing health care education to patients and their families;
13. Acting as a consultant for other medical, nursing, and clinical staff;
14. Placing return to clinic orders for patients follow up care.

Administrative duties and responsibilities (20% of position) include but are not limited to:

1. Completing and closing patient encounters within VHA guidelines;
2. Preparing for scheduled patient encounters;
3. Participating with mental health and psychiatric services to include attending S&BHS staff trainings, Monday All Hands meetings, S&BH Monthly Meetings, Psychiatry Monthly Team meetings, and Psychiatry Peer Consultation group;
4. Participating in assigned VISN and National level calls and trainings;
5. Participating in development and implementation of service level projects such as completing tracers or performing Environment of Care rounds.
6. Participating in Professional Practice Evaluation activities;
7. Ensuring that any quality measure fallouts from Professional Practice Evaluations are reviewed and addressed appropriately;
8. Coordinating across the continuum of care from Primary Care Mental Health Integrated Care, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MHRRTP).
9. Supporting the Chief of Psychiatry and the ACOS of Mental Health in developing quality improvement practices to enhance service provision;
10. Participating in professional and administrative activities as assigned;
11. Remaining up to date on Service Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Medical Center Policies (MCPs), VHA Directives, VHA Handbooks, Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), and accreditation standards.

III. SUPERVISORY STRUCTURE

The Staff Psychiatrist reports directly to the Chief of Psychiatry

Normal Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Board Certification/Eligibility
• Must have full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in ANY U.S. State.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal)
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation - unused sick leave can be used to extend creditable service time at retirement!
• 11 Federal holidays per year with pay
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available.
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government.
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS basic benefits (pension), 12.7% of your salary is vested in the pension. (Government contributes 8.3% and employee contributes 4.4%) and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service