Staff Physician (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

Overview

As a Staff Physician you will practice mission‑focused medicine and provide comprehensive primary and urgent care to individuals in federal custody within a collaborative, multidisciplinary federal healthcare system.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical care to a diverse international patient population in an ambulatory care setting and infirmary‑based care to patients in facilities with a medical housing unit.
• Work in concert with facility staff and consultant specialists to ensure the provision of necessary health care services for patients.
• Utilize communication assistance resources to ensure patients with limited English proficiency and/or communication disabilities can understand their plan of care.
• Perform all duties in accordance with accepted medical practices and standards of care as defined by community professional medical standards and within the scope of practice granted in clinical privileges.
• Collect comprehensive medical and social history, conduct initial and follow‑up assessments, and examine and order diagnostic testing for acute and chronic detainee health care needs.
• Prescribe necessary treatment and/or medications as required; refer selected cases to consultant specialists and detainees requiring hospitalization to a local hospital and appropriate admitting physician.
• Care for the more complex patients or those referred by an advanced practice provider (APP) who require greater skill in medical management.
• Maintain an expected patient encounter rate of approximately one patient every 30‑45 minutes, including evaluation and medical record documentation.
• Review and co‑sign all medical documentation assigned by other health care personnel, including assessments, admissions, discharges, and medical care records.
• Serve as a consultant for APPs and other clinical staff, providing clinical oversight and direction, which may include designation as a collaborating physician and directing the scope of practice for medical assistants.
• Make rounds on detainees admitted to his/her care with APPs and nursing personnel; evaluate detainees in segregated status or housed in segregation units.
• Render emergency medical, surgical, and mental health services as required.
• Ensure that proper evaluations and treatments are carried out and documented; monitor patient care quality and provide data to the Performance Improvement program and other required committees.
• Work primarily on weekday day‑shift clinical duties with shared on‑call responsibilities among site physicians and APPs.
• May be asked to see patients on an interim basis who are not in the category of his/her clinical expertise.
• May function as the clinical director in his/her absence or be called on to assist with other clinic operations if the regularly assigned physician is absent.
• Ensure proper maintenance of medical records, preparation of reports, and make recommendations on policy, procedures, training, personnel, and equipment related to specific responsibilities.
• Participate in Health Services medical in‑service programs; assist with training for APPs, nursing staff, support services personnel, and peers.
• Work with and be assigned to various committees; maintain security of the institution as required.
• Follow the supervisory chain of command; assume any other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Applicants must be a current U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call‑to‑Active‑Duty (CAD) candidate.
• Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Upon appointment, officers will be required to serve an 18‑to‑24‑month commitment to the ICE Health Service Corps.
• If you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
• Civilian applicants are not eligible.
• PHS officers must participate in the IHSC Traveling Duty Duty Call (ITOS) schedule, which may require availability for an entire month or two 16‑day periods each year.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates clear and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Represents the agency and its interests with external parties in a positive manner.
• Applies relevant knowledge and skills to perform work in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Assigns, monitors, and evaluates the work and behavior of others, setting and communicating clear expectations.
• Leads by communicating a vision for the work unit, translating broad organizational goals into concrete objectives, plans, priorities, and assignments.
• Demonstrates core values of integrity, commitment, accountability, service, and excellence.

Physical Demands

• Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds repetitively for brief periods.
• Required to perform CPR or emergency care while standing or kneeling.
• Must assist sick, injured, or aging detainees or staff exiting a building, which may involve lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying individuals who weigh significantly more than oneself.
• May need to run short distances, stand for prolonged periods, and provide medical care within a secure detention facility environment.

Education & Training

1. M.D. from a U.S. or Canadian program accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; or
2. D.O. from a program accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation; or
3. Certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates if the graduate’s medical school is not located within a U.S. state, territory, or Canadian province.

• One completed year of postgraduate medical education in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education or the Bureau of Osteopathic Education.
• Current, unrestricted, and valid medical license from any U.S. state, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam.
• Three years of medical specialty training in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, or another primary care specialty leading to board eligibility; board certification preferred and at least one year of professional patient‑care experience.
• Certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, or equivalent.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DEA registration for prescribing controlled substances.
• Typing proficiency and experience with electronic health record documentation.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedule and work requirements.
• High degree of independence, initiative, clinical judgment, and follow‑through on a variety of sensitive, complex clinical issues.
• Experience in correctional or detention medicine preferred.

Additional Information & Benefits

— Additional Assignment Pay may be available for certain duty locations.
— Eligible duty locations may qualify for National Health Service Corps loan repayment.
— Opportunities for career development include progression to clinical director or regional director roles.

Evaluation

Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualifications and requirements listed above.