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 $200,000) 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. Learn more. 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 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. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2022. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred weekly. The VA Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) is a Level 3 facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, neurological, and psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, with a Level III Emergency Department, multiple VA Clinics, and a Community Living Center (CLC). The incumbent will be located within Mental Health Service with 95% of time in Administrative and Supervisor duties as the Chief of Mental Health Service and with 5% of time providing mental health services to Veterans presenting with mental health disorders. The services rendered will include assessment for mental health disorders and the application of evidenced base mental health treatment plans. They will serve a leadership role in a multidisciplinary mental health Service, overseeing outpatient and inpatient programming and reporting directly to the Chief of Staff. The incumbent demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. They provide care for Veterans ranging in age from 18 through the geriatric years, taking into consideration diagnosis and physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs. Shares expertise in such care to clinical trainees providing care during clinical rotations to Veterans. Demonstrates, promotes, creates and ensures a culturally diverse care in which the values and needs of all individuals are respected. The incumbent practices in a broad variety of mental health programs. Their practices effectively in assigned as an actively seeking knowledge, skills and abilities to provide comprehensive psychiatric services. They may be assigned responsibilities and duties based on education, experience and competency in various outpatient settings. They are also a part of the team providing on-call responsibilities to the Emergency Department, inpatient mental Health unit and consultation service. RESPONSIBILITIES:\nThe Chief of Mental Health manages administrative and clinical aspects of a combination of programs located across the WCHCS. They have responsibility for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing, creating and monitoring work assignments, managing budget, ensuring implementation of treatment services per VA Directive, monitoring and reporting upon quality and safety of services and providers, ensuring program standards meet accreditation requirements of oversight bodies, monitoring and reporting upon outcomes of various programs, actively participating in and reporting to national, VISN and facility level committees. They also supervise employees assigned to the programs. They will directly oversee program services congruent with experience and areas of competence, including the oversight of over 80 personnel employees. The incumbent assumes the supervisory and administrative responsibility for the management of the assigned staff members who function within Mental Health programs in the WCHCS. As a Psychiatrist, they provide services to Veterans, their families and the interdisciplinary team regarding evaluation, identification and treatment of psychological concerns and psychiatric diagnosis in the mental health settings. As the supervisor, they plan, establish, and implement policies and procedures; developing individual or group goals and objectives as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating and overseeing the staff assigned to mental health programming. They will assure the staff whom they supervise are aware of, adhere to all current directives of VHA, and meet current Joint Commission standards, State licensure standards, and VA-OIG expectations. They will conduct ongoing intensive reviews and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.\nEducation Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Gina Hammer, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting\nWork Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm"]