Physician (Pain Management) with Recruitment/Relocation Incentive/EDRP

Summary

The West Texas VA Health Care System Ambulatory Care Service is currently seeking a Physician (Pain Management) responsible for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered pain medical care through biopsychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and longitudinal treament aimed at improving function and quality of life. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

Duties

• The Pain Management Physicial will coordinate care within the pain management team, serves as the Pain Clinic Lead, and participates in program development, interdisciplinaty collaboration, and quality improvement initiatives. Duties include the following: Provides comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and longitudinal treatment with the aim to improve function and quality of life while minimizing the impact of pain. Conducts physical examinations and order diagnostic test with consultation (referrals) as part of the diagnostic evaluation and pain care planning. Provides in-person and virtual care options. Provides medication management for pain including prescribing of opioid analgesic medications, when indicated. Assesses for and diagnoses opioid use disorder and prescribes medications for opioids use disorder, when indicated. Coordinates pain care within the pain management team and VA health care and with external providers (e.g., interventional pain care, care in the community). Serves as the Pain Clinic Lead for the facility and reports to the Depty Chief of Staff. Participates in interdisciplinary meetings, committees, conferences, grand rounds, TJC activities, and any other relevant activities to assist the program, service, and facility. Performs administrative components of pain care management, such as documentation of evaluations, progress notes reports, summaries, signatures, and consultation referrals for both in/outpatients following facility and service line guidelines. Functions as a part of (or works closely with) the facility Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMOP) Triad and participates in related program development and process. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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.

Requirements

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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.

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: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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. Education Debt Reducation Program: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.