Physician - Primary Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 210,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

EDRP eligibility

Federal benefits package

Job summary

The Fort Harrison Montana VA Medical Facility is recruiting for Primary Care Physicians to support our Nation's Heroes in a robust ambulatory setting.

Qualifications include MD/DO, full and unrestricted US licensure, VA-appropriate residency, and board eligibility. The role emphasizes leading a PACT, coordinating care, and providing services via face-to-face and telehealth modalities.

Qualifications

• US citizenship and licensure in a U.S. state or territory.
• MD or DO degree from a VA-approved school, with residency in a core specialty.
• Full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Board eligibility or certification in a VA-approved specialty.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) in ambulatory care.
• Provide outpatient primary care following PACT principles.
• Deliver care via in-person, telehealth, and other modalities.
• Travel to supported clinics to cover vacancies as needed.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to improve veteran care.

Skills

English proficiency

PACT leadership

Outpatient care

Telehealth

Education

Doctor of Medicine or DO

US medical license

Residency in core specialty

Job description

Summary

The Fort Harrison Montana VA Medical Facility is currently recruiting for Primary Care Physicians to help serve our Nation's Heroes.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending 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
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from a VA‑approved school completed in the year the course finished
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• Completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program eligible for board certification
• Approved residencies include those authorized by the ACGME or AOA as published for the year of completion
• Or one year of post‑medical‑school training approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice under a full license in the United States
• Or non‑U.S. residency training followed by at least three years of verified independent practice in the United States performing duties related to the position
• Residency exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA‑accredited programs who would otherwise meet the basic requirements may be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed and may only serve intermittently, under supervision, and are not considered independent practitioners nor are they privileged.
• Surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• In rare circumstances the Facility Director may request a reasonable exception to the residency requirement through the VISN Director
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred experience (see https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for details)

Duties

• Announces vacancies currently vacant or potentially available during the opening period
• Reviews application materials and notifies applicants of eligibility
• Maintains applications on file through the closing date
• Functions as the Physician Team leader of their Patient‑Aligned Care Team (PACT) in an ambulatory care, community‑based outpatient clinic (CBOC) setting at MTVAHCS
• May perform additional duties (temporary or permanent) as a float provider (face‑to‑face or telehealth) as assigned
• Provides outpatient medical care following PACT principles
• Delivers care via face‑to‑face, VVC, and/or telephone appointments
• Provides care to outreach clinics when acting as a float provider for remote patients
• Travel to supported CBOC(s) periodically to cover provider vacancies as required
• Ensures clinical care meets all VA timelines and documentation requirements
• Reviews daily alerts and limits alerts to no more than 200 concurrent alerts
• Documents encounter notes within 72 hours
• Completes encounter error remediation within 7 days
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings to achieve a patient‑centered, holistic approach to veteran care
• Attends daily and weekly huddles with the PACT
• Complies with directives and policies related to space management to maximize clinic utilization within the PACT model
• Reviews performance data with the team and focuses on continuous improvement of critical processes
• Engages in PACT performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize efficiency and care delivery
• Implements primary‑care operations management processes as appropriate
• Manages communications and facilitates safe transitions of patients between the PACT’s site of care and other health‑care settings
• Provides health education and coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic‑care management, and self‑management skills to veterans and support persons
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• Recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus) may be available for specific locations
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility for student‑loan repayment; apply within four months of appointment
• Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) determined by VHA after reviewing the application
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible
• Pay: 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, and possible 5 days CME absence)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (five‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many federal programs can be carried into retirement)
• Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory
• Continuing medical education: Possible $1,000 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
• Contract buy‑out program eligibility for certain rural facilities with at least four years service obligation
• Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• NOTE: Available for all locations listed, except Great Falls