SummaryThe Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Medical Director is responsible for overseeing the psychiatric/medical aspects of the BHIP, including supervision of the BHIP psychiatrists and mental health nurse practitioners (NPs).
DutiesPay: 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)
Telework: This position may be authorized for some ad-hoc (short term or episodic) telework only per Agency policy.
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
Administrative Responsibilities (20%)The
BHIP (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
) Medical Director is responsible for overseeing the psychiatric/medical aspects of the BHIP, including supervision of the BHIP psychiatrists and mental health nurse practitioners (NPs).
i. Administrative Leadership:- Administratively supervises the psychiatrists and mental health nurse practitioners within the BHIP section/program
- Assist in responsibilities overseen by the Mental Health Executive team, including compliance with local, federal, and accreditation requirements governing the JDDVAMC.
- Assist the Mental Health Executive team in implementing MHS policies, same-day services, and addressing patient complaints.
- Assist the Mental Health Executive team and Chief of Psychiatry with Patient Safety, Peer Review, OPPE, and Delegated Authority for Community Care as necessary.
- Facilitate team performance by attending team meetings and relevant clinic/program leadership meetings.
ii. Clinical Leadership:- Within BHIP, functions as a lead for all medical issues (including planning and implementing new programs) and as a consulting resource for clinicians of all other disciplines (nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and others) in their respective programs.
- Monitors and facilitates workflow for program/section psychiatrists and MH nurse practitioners by reviewing clinic grids, clinic utilization, caseloads, and productivity. Proactively identifies and addresses problems. May require travel to CBOC locations.
- Orients new psychiatrists in VA clinical procedures, CPRS, and other responsibilities.
iii. Quality Improvement:- Actively provides direction, guidance, and assistance to develop and maintain the highest standards of care, focusing on quality assurance and development.
- Conduct and/or facilitate quality improvement projects and/or collaborative research conducted in the Programs.
iv. Education/Training Liaison:- Orient trainees, monitor and coordinate medical educational programs (in consultation with the Training Directors), and ensure that trainees receive appropriate supervision (in consultation with the Chief of Psychiatry).
- Facilitate ongoing medically relevant learning for the mental health staff through a variety of teaching methods.
Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 08:00am-04:30pm
RequirementsConditions of employment- U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
QualificationsTo 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:- Citizenship. Candidates must be a United States citizen. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
- Education. Applicants must possess a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. 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.
- Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted.
- NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. a7 7405 for a podiatric graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.
- Licensure or Registration. Applicants 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 podiatrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.
- Residency Training. Podiatrists must have completed residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or
- (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training.
- English Language Proficiency. Podiatrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. a7 7402(d), 7407(d).
Preferred Experience: Board Certified Psychiatrist; Two years experience working on a BHIP Team.
Additional Requirements: Board Certified in Podiatry Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Ability to physically access various treatment settings within the facility. Ability to use computers frequently/continuously throughout the day for data input and communication. Ability to use phone. Position is primarily sedentary, and incumbent must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. May require light lifting and carrying (under 10 pounds) and climbing stairs as needed.
EducationDoctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. 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.
(1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted.
NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. a7 7405 for a podiatric graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area
Additional informationThis job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
VA Healthcare System advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
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