Physician (Regular Ft) - Primary Care

About the role

The physician shall provide primary care services required for VA beneficiaries. The physician shall provide care at the Cambridge Community Based Outpatient clinic (CBOCs). All labor and services shall be provided including management, supervision, teaching, consultations, and reports. Performance shall be according to professional standards of The Joint Commission. Care shall be appropriately documented in the electronic medical record in accordance with standard community practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive patient care including assessment, health history, physical examination, and patient education.
• Diagnose and treat chronic conditions, inter-current medical conditions, and acute medical conditions.
• Perform advanced, comprehensive health assessments, including relevant history and physical assessment.
• Preventive Care: Perform a variety of disease prevention-related activities including gender and age-specific screenings, mental health screenings, and health promotion activities.
• Provide comprehensive gender-specific care, including cervical and breast cancer screenings, menopause, and contraceptive management, especially for female veterans.
• Chronic Disease Management: Monitor and manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
• Develop and implement treatment plans according to accepted protocols.
• Care Coordination: Collaborate with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive, continuous care.
• Work closely with nursing, clerical, pharmacy, social workers, dietitians, and other team members.
• Coordinate care across different departments and external facilities as necessary.
• Mental Health Care: Screen for, evaluate, and treat uncomplicated common mental health disorders such as depression and common addictions, referring to mental health providers as needed.
• Supervision and Education: Supervise and provide clinical oversight for mid-level providers such as physician assistants, if needed.
• Participate in the supervision and teaching of residents and medical students from affiliated medical schools.
• Documentation and Administrative Tasks: Ensure timely and accurate documentation in patient records, including notes and encounter forms. Complete all administrative work promptly and address clinical reminders as medically appropriate.
• Participate in peer reviews, quality assurance programs, and medical record reviews.
• Meetings and Continuing Education: Regularly attend primary care staff meetings, departmental meetings, and medical staff meetings. Engage in continuous professional development and stay updated with medical advancements.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Provide leadership to ensure care is completed within required timeframes and participate in quality improvement activities. Participate in team meetings and treatment planning conferences to enhance patient care coordination.
• Serve as a surrogate for absent primary care providers when needed.
• Ethics and Professional Conduct: Adhere to ethical standards, VA policies, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Ensure practice consistency with Joint Commission, CARF, VA policies, clinical practice guidelines, and HIPAA policies. Actively participate in compliance readiness activities and maintain a harmonious, customer service-oriented work environment.
• Clinical Responsibilities: Order and evaluate diagnostic tests, determine medical assessments, and develop treatment plans. Prescribe medications according to approved formulary and in accordance with federal and state laws. Utilize all virtual care modalities as part of patient care provision.
• Women's Health Responsibilities: Provide primary care, including preventive healthcare, evaluation, and management of women's health issues such as gynecological care, menopause management, birth control counseling, and initial infertility evaluation. Collaborate with gynecologists, women's veterans practice managers, maternity coordinators, and breast care coordinators.

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.
• 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 allopathic 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.