Physician - Primary Care

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements listed below and any additional requirements (if applicable) stated in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of required training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physicians within the VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are considered to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

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
• 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
• Approved residencies include: (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 residency programs (non‑US residency training followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) deemed by the local Medical Staff Executive Committee to provide appropriate professional training and exposure to a wide range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA‑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 or fee‑basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• PRPs’ scope of practice 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

Preferred Experience: 5+ years of outpatient primary care experience

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers—both hands required, walking, standing, both legs required, rapid mental and muscular coordination, near vision correctable at 13″ to 16″ to Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted).

For more information on this qualification standard:

Duties

• The incumbent will serve as a Physician in a Patient‑Aligned Care Team (PACT) setting
• Provide medical care in an outpatient setting following PACT principles
• Offer Telehealth services for remote patients or travel to other CBOCs to cover provider shortages
• Use all available tools—such as registries—to enable effective identification and intervention for individual patients and cohorts
• Ensure clinical care meets all timelines and required documentation for the Chief of Staff (COS) office
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to achieve a patient‑centered, holistic approach for clinical care and Veteran needs, focusing on continuous improvement of critical team processes
• Ensure the patient’s care plan contains medical recommendations for clinically indicated care
• Continuously care one or more assigned panel(s) of Veterans, providing health education and health coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self‑management skills to patients and personal support persons
• Collaborate with informatics technology staff to develop and implement system‑based, electronically supported, standardized tools to support PACT care delivery processes (e.g., pre‑visit reminder calls, post‑hospitalization follow‑up calls, recall scheduling procedures, new patient orientation, disease registries, and primary care protocols for chronic disease management)
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
• Telework: Not authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment). Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an 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. Contact for questions or assistance.

Benefits & Compensation

Pay: Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and 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, and up to 5 days for CME)

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care (many can be carried into retirement)

Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. State or territory

Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided

Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

VHA Physician Total Rewards.