The Primary Care Physician serves as a practicing physician responsible for the overall management of patients enrolled for healthcare services provided by the Tennessee Valley Health Care System. Responsible for administrative tasks associated with clinic operations, provides leadership and direction to support staff assigned to their PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team).

Duties

Duties: Fully implements the components and processes relative to the VHA Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) healthcare system design. Coordinates care for a panel of outpatients as assigned by TVHS. Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled patients in the clinic setting. Perform histories and physical exams. Provides appropriate documentation to minimally include history, physical exam findings, diagnosis, definitive care plan and disposition of the patient. Ensures that patient encounters are appropriately closed-out including disposition that clearly indicates the next steps of care. Ensures that each patient is provided a list of current medications and an appointment list at close-out. Perform office procedures contained within their approved privileges. Prescribe medications as appropriate. Order routine laboratory, radiological and diagnostic tests and provide initial interpretation of results. Communicate test results to patients. Respond to questions and other inquiries from patients. Initiate or expedite requests for consultations and special tests. Provide education to the patient and family as necessary. Order immunizations and other preventive or screening services as necessary. Screen patients to determine the need for hospitalization. Perform Basic Life Support as necessary. Communicate clinical findings to other providers using the Computerized Patient Record System. Function as the managing physician for nurse practitioners and/or physician assistants as assigned by TVHS. Function as a preceptor for residents in the clinic setting as assigned by TVHS. Treats patients 18 years of age or greater. Consistently communicates and treats customers, (veterans, their representatives, visitors and all VA staff in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. The Primary Care Physician will provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures and will handle conflicts and problems when dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. The Primary Care Physician will protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws Federal Regulations, VA statures and policy and VHA policy. The Primary Care Physician protects data from unauthorized release, or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion and follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files and release of access codes, etc. Uses data sets contained in the VHA Almanac, Compass and High Risk Registries to identify and more highly manage patients at high risk and/or that have recurring outcome values that are outside the norm. Electronically tracks various components of care to promote a higher level of care coordination. Maximizes the use of virtual care modalities such as Home Telemedicine, Secure Messaging and e-Consults to enhance access to care. Complies with the Medical Center Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. This position may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. 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 complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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) 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. Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided. Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified individuals. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Requirements

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Degree of 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. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR[(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR(3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., 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; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that 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: Two years of experience as an internal medicine/ family medicine/primary care physician, preferred, not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The work is largely office based and in a sedentary setting. No manual labor is required above ordinary situations. Incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. 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:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a physician 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.

Contacts

• Address Tennessee Valley HCS - Nashville 1310 24th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 US
• Name: Arti Zepeda
• Phone: 406-373-3312
• Email: [email protected]