Staff Physician (Primary Care)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements under VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Email for EDRP questions: .

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the basic requirements below and any applicable additional requirements from the job announcement. Applicants pending completion of training or license requirements may be tentatively selected but cannot be hired until all requirements are met.

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when no qualified citizen can be recruited.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent allopathic/osteopathic degree from a VA‑approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program leading to board certification.
• For ACGME/AIA accredited residency: completion of the program or one year of post‑medical‑school training followed by two years of independent practice.
• Non‑U.S. residency programs: minimum three years of verified independent practice in the United States.
• Residents in ACGME/AOA programs who otherwise meet basic requirements may be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs) under specified conditions.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Preferred Experience: Board‑certified Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Office of Osteopathic Medicine.
• One year of primary‑care experience, including women's health scope.
• Physical requirements: withstanding physically and mentally able to perform essential functions, with reasonable accommodations if needed; vision, hearing or speech requirements may apply.
• Reference:

Benefits

• Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 5 days paid CME absence).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many can be carried into retirement).
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted state license (or equivalent) required.
• CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (full‑time board certified).
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• Contract: No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Contact for EDRP:

Primary Care Site

The incumbent serves as the PACT Physician Primary Care at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Healthcare System (ATLVAMC) and Community‑Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). The incumbent is directly supervised by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Primary Care.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide primary‑care services for a panel of patients assigned.
• Perform examinations according to performance guidelines, expectantly documenting notes per policy.
• Screen outpatient visits to determine need for further care.
• Evaluate unscheduled patients, order diagnostic studies, and carry out health‑promotion and disease‑prevention activities.
• Initiate and expedite requests for consultations and schedule special tests and studies.
• Review patient panel, provide preventive care, and coordinate care with specialists.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Adhere to operational policies and procedures for the primary‑care team as established by the primary‑care service line manager.
• Facilitate liaisons with other health‑care programs for effective care coordination.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health‑care screening, completion of clinical reminders, and encounters for all patients.
• Document procedures using CPRS per timeliness standards and proper patient check‑out procedures.
• Attend and participate in administrative and informational meetings with the CMO, regional director, chief of primary care, and facility director.
• Participate in regular service‑line staff meetings, clinic‑team meetings, and primary‑care service‑line peer review procedures.
• Collaborate with team members to facilitate timely completion of medical forms, patient‑complaint responses, and other administrative duties.
• Maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and complete mandatory educational classes.
• Respond to the Patient Align Tracking System (PATS) and other appropriate correspondences.
• Assist as a physician supervisor or collaborator for a Restricted Practice Authority (NP) as needed.

Other Significant Responsibilities

• Provide academic/teaching/training opportunities with residents and/or medical students at several clinics.

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (subject to change based on agency needs).