Physician (Primary Care)

This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Eligible applicants will be referred each week for consideration until a selection is made.

This position is 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 $200000) 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.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP. Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary annual performance bonus 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 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 $1000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Incumbent serves in primary care medicine service as an ambulatory care physician/provider for patients who require care within the assigned clinic structure within the Department. He/ She is responsible for the management of patients to include examination medical care management coordination of consultation referral of patients development and operation of quality assurance and utilization programs including peer reviews community clinic physicians and services and physicians in Bay Pines Healthcare System Services. Coordinates preventive health care needs according to guidelines established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and sound medical practice. Measurement of clinical performance is based upon quality reviews completion of clinical reminders in CPRS participation in medical center committees and other methods. An active knowledge of the patient care processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs the Healthcare System and its clinics is maintained. An essential element is active knowledge of the medical records system (CPRS). This shall include using the computerized medical record system for progress notes orders and medical record review and completion of such records in a complete and timely manner. The incumbent shall have knowledge of and abide by Healthcare System Bylaws VHA Rules and Regulations and have a familiarization with existing VA specific clinical guidelines.

Physicians have a responsibility to accommodate patients emergent needs. Phone calls administrative form completion and other patient requests are to be completed in a timely manner - in most cases within one week.

Supervision of Physician Assistants (PA) Students and Residents may be part of the physician responsibility. This shall include annual review of performance with submission of a written report which summarizes the clinical performance of the individual(s) supervised. This includes review of medical records patient care drug prescribing and consultation requests. All new patients and any patient with significant change in clinical status should be reviewed between PA Student Resident and physician.

The incumbent is directly responsible to the Service Chief of Primary Care at the Bay Pines VAMC. The physician will work collaboratively and under the direction of their assigned Section Chief. Administrative assignments may be assigned by the Section Chief or self-generated. Work is reviewed for timely delivery of health evaluative services and high-quality exams consistent with standardized practices.

Physicians will participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and functions as a team member. Physicians will be active in the management of the primary care profiles to ensure appropriate timeliness of care and continuity of care including maintenance of health and treatment of illness.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-430pm(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in 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.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 (Family Medicine or Internal Medicine) 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.

• Board certified or board eligible in Addiction medicine- (if not applicant will plan to achieve that within the conditional hiring period) and Internal Medicine or Family Medicine.
• Alternative pain management skills (such as osteopathic manipulation acupuncture chiropractic massage healing touch)
• Comfortable prescribing suboxone
• Experience with joint injections trigger point injections
• Fellowship trained in Pain Management and Addiction
• One-year post residency in pain management and addiction training