Physician (Patient Aligned Care Team Primary Care Provider)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the basic requirements and any additional requirements listed in the job announcement. Pending completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Physicians currently employed in the 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.

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy.
• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic or osteopathic medicine.
• 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, United States Commonwealth, or 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.
• Accepted residency pathways:
  • Program approved by ACGME or AOA in the published list for the year the residency was completed.
  • One year of post‑medical‑school training approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice.
  • Non‑US residency training followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States.
• Residents enrolled in accredited residency training programs who otherwise meet the basic requirements are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis. They are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they have a scope of practice that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• In rare circumstances, the Facility Director may request a reasonable exception to the residency training requirement for physicians whose composite record of experience warrants such action, which may be approved by the VISN Director or VISN Chief Medical Officer.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, visit
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on essential duties, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. In most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment may be compensated for by satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

The Birmingham VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Physician – Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Primary Care Provider for the Childersburg VA Clinic. This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum four years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including VHA Physician Total Rewards, recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus), and a competitive salary.
• Annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 50–55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 Federal holidays, and up to 5 days paid absence for CME).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care, many federal programs transferable into retirement.
• License: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. 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 employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Demonstrating advanced competencies in assessing the physical and psychosocial status of patients.
  • Maintaining an active role in the assigned multidisciplinary health care team – promoting preventive health measures and managing acute and chronic conditions of assigned patients.
  • Providing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis work‑up, and clinic intervention.
  • Performing comprehensive patient assessments, incorporating health history, physical examinations, and patient education.
  • Managing both scheduled and unscheduled appointments.
• Work Schedule: Full‑time position with several standard tours of duty available based on service line and incumbent needs.
• Clinic hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• After‑hours call and rounding for hospitalized patients are not required.
• Telework: Available (AD‑hoc only).

Contact – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.