Physician (Regular Ft) Primary Care Geriatrics

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks an experienced physician for outpatient geriatric primary care with a focus on frailty, dementia, and functional decline. The role emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered goals-of-care planning.

Applicants should have a medical degree, an unrestricted US license, and completed a core residency with board eligibility. VA offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for teaching and research.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• MD or DO degree from an approved school is required.
• Current full and unrestricted medical license in a US state or territory.
• Residency training in an accredited core specialty with board eligibility is required.
• Alternative pathways require post‑graduate training and practice in the US when not on the standard residency path.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive outpatient geriatric primary care including evaluation of geriatric syndromes.
• Lead goals-of-care discussions with patients, families and caregivers.
• Coordinate with Palliative Care and Hospice teams for transitions of care.
• Collaborate in an interdisciplinary model with pharmacists, PT/OT, social work, and mental health.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives focused on geriatrics.

Skills

Proficiency in English

Education

MD/DO degree

Unrestricted medical license (US/state)

Residency in approved core specialty

Post-training independent practice (US)

ACGME/AOA residency equivalence

Job description

Summary

Eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) -student loan payment reimbursement program. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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 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
• (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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Required qualifications (screen out): Fellowship in Geriatrics Medicine
• Experience in clinic-based outpatient geriatrics medicine
• Preferred Qualifications (This is not a screen out but would be considered the most highly desirable candidate): - CAQ eligibility or certification in Geriatric Medicine - demonstrating advanced - board-recognized expertise in the care of older adults
• - Experience advising Primary Care and specialty services on complex geriatric care plans - including frailty - cognitive impairment - multimorbidity - and functional decline
• - Demonstrated excellence in transitions of care - including nursing facility communication - rehabilitation coordination - and post-acute follow-up
• - Experience with PACE programs - Home-Based Primary Care - long-term care - nursing home medicine - or inpatient geriatrics units
• - Documented record of teaching - curriculum development - quality improvement leadership - or participation in geriatric research initiatives
• - Experience caring for older patient population at the end of life - including palliative collaboration and facilitation of goals-of-care and advance care planning discussions
• - Proven competency in caring for older patient population at the end of life - including palliative care coordination - goals-of-care conversations - and comprehensive support for families
• - Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills - including work with pharmacists - PT/OT - mental health - social work - and advanced practice providers
• - Ability to navigate complex healthcare systems - lead system-level improvements - and support development and expansion of geriatric programs
• Additional Formal Training (Post-Residency) - Completion of a 12-month ACGME-accredited Geriatric Medicine fellowship focused on the care of older adults
• - Structured clinical - didactic - and interdisciplinary curriculum centered on geriatric syndromes - aging physiology - and complex multimorbidity
• - Training pathways may include clinical - clinician-educator - clinical leadership - or research tracks
• - Depth of Expertise in Conditions Specific to Older Adults - Advanced competencies in dementia/cognitive disorders - frailty and functional decline - polypharmacy and deprescribing - falls/gait disorders - incontinence - delirium - and end-of-life/goals-of-care communication-aligned to geriatrics milestones
• Physical Requirements: Placement in this position is subject to meeting the physical requirements of this position
• Pre-placement medical examination is required - along with a drug screening being required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Provide comprehensive outpatient geriatric primary care including evaluation and management of geriatric syndromes (i.e. - frailty - cognitive impairment - delirium - falls - gait disorders - incontinence - polypharmacy - and deprescribing) Advise Primary Care and specialty teams on geriatric care plans - complex decision making - and integration of palliative approaches into outpatient care
• Lead goals-of-care and end-of-life conversations with patients - families - and caregivers
• coordinate closely with Palliative Care and Hospice
• Coordinate transitions of care among acute - post-acute - rehabilitation - PACE - and long-term care/nursing home settings to ensure safety - continuity - and quality
• Collaborate in an interdisciplinary model (pharmacists
• PT/OT
• social work
• mental health
• advanced practice providers) to optimize outcomes
• Participate in quality improvement (QI) initiatives targeting geriatric populations
• apply systems-based practice to reduce harm and improve value
• Teach and mentor learners (fellows - residents - students - APPs) via didactics - case conferences - and bedside teaching
• contribute to curriculum development
• Document thoroughly in the electronic health record
• comply with regulatory - patient safety - and quality standards VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Learn more
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Contact VHA EDRP Program Support [e-mail] 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 $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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m.