PACT PHYSICIAN

  PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER – PHYSICIAN

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: 

• The incumbent will primarily act as a primary care provider within a Patient Aligned Care Team. The incumbent will provide primary care to an assigned patient panel as delineated in the clinical privilege list for a primary care physician. This will include, but is not limited to, diagnosis and management of a variety of chronic medical illnesses,' patients' and management of a variety of acute medical illnesses, providing patient education in regard to their acute and/or chronic illnesses, addressing preventative care topics with patients, coordination of patient care with consultants and specialists, performing routine in office procedures within the primary care patients practice, and formulation of care plans to ensure patient’s overall health and wellbeing. 

  SCOPE OF ASSIGNED CLINICAL DUTIES:  

  Responsible for examining, diagnosing, and treating patients with both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Ensures that all treatment meets generally accepted standard of care criteria.  

Responsible for completing a clinically appropriate workup for each diagnosis via physical exam, diagnostic laboratory and/or diagnostic imaging. Relaying results of diagnostic laboratory or diagnostic imaging to the patient in a timely manner 

Responsible for providing patient education regarding their diagnoses and treatments along with addressing preventative medicine at each visit. The physician is responsible for acting as a leader within their PACT and providing teaching/mentoring to each member of their team to improve the overall care experienced by the patient. 

Responsible for coordination of patient care with consultants and specialists as needed. 

Maintains appropriate documentation to include but not limited to the following topics: i. Timeliness – all documentation must be completed by the incumbent within 7 days from Date of Service 

Each note meets the Standard Criteria – it must contain the basic elements for an accurate, complete, and billable primary care note. 

The incumbent adheres to the VHA Code of Ethics, performs own duties as required, and Maintains Information Security Protocols as covered in N.E.O. 

The Incumbent displays professionalism at all times. Performs own duties as required  ii. Understands and respects the duties and roles of others in the department  iii. It is responsive to the needs of team members regarding time and information. 

Assigned duty station during duty hours for team members to consult 

  Adheres to HIPAA guidelines in both written and verbal communication. 

  Incumbent will perform only those privileges for which approval has been granted by the Medical Center Director prospectively and in writing. 

Incumbents maintain their own professional qualifications, participate in customer service training, computer training, and attend mandated medical center training activities as required. 

The Incumbent will serve in a supervisory capacity for ancillary staff and maintain appropriate documentation of said supervision. 

The Incumbent may provide education and training to members of the medical/dental staff through various conferences, committees, and lecture series. 

Incumbent may be assigned administrative or managerial responsibilities through participation in clinical, educational and administrative committees, task groups, or special projects. 

  Incumbents who supervise residents will provide education, training, mentoring, and supervision to students and residents. 

• Incumbents with specialized training in a particular specialty may be assigned section chief responsibilities for the subspecialty and may function as the primary clinician or subject-matter expert responsible for formulating policy, procedures, education, and training affecting the daily clinical operations of the subspecialty. 

3. Supervisory Controls:
4. a)Incumbent will be subject to the standard evaluation format of the FPPE/OPPE process. 
5. b)Clinical Privileges will be renewed semiannually or when additional/new training qualifies the primary care provider to perform other procedures not already approved. 
6. c)Incumbent reports to the clinic’s Chief Medical Officer for day-to-day clinic operations. 

4. Qualification Requirements:
5. a)  Education – Hold a doctoral degree in medicine (MD or DO) obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed 
6. b)Incumbents must be independent licensed practitioners who hold a full and unrestricted license in any state. 
7. c)  Incumbents hold unrestricted DEA permit 
8. d)Incumbents maintain their own professional qualifications 
9. e)  Incumbents must pass a pre-employment examination along with a designated and/or random drugs

Testing when required 

1. f)  Background and/or Security Investigation required 
2. g)Incumbent must be proficient in written and spoken English 
3. h)Citizenship - Citizen of the United States (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3g) 

5. Customer Service Requirement:
6. a)Incumbent maintains appropriate professional conduct at all times 
7. b)Incumbent displays excellent communication and interpersonal relation skills, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers. 
8. c)Incumbent adheres to HIPAA guidelines in both written and verbal communication to maintenance of confidentiality of patient information, electronic and print 

6.                                  Age, Development, & Cultural Needs of Patients Requirements: Incumbent provides age/population specific care as identified in the Age/Population Specific Competencies including knowledge of changes associated with development and principles of growth and development relevant to the early adult to geriatric age groups; ability to assess and interpret data about the patient’s status; and ability to identify age/population specific needs and provide the appropriate care based upon the age/population specific factors noted. 

7.                                  Computer Security: Automated Information Systems Security: In the performance of official duties, the employee has regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive information, which must be protected under the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974, the HIPAA implementation, effective April 14, 2003 and other applicable laws and regulations. The employee is responsible for (1) protecting that information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion, and (2) following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set forth in the hospital's Automated Information Systems Users Agreement which the employee signs. 

Information Security and Confidentiality: Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties. Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

The Amarillo VA Health Care System, a division of the VA Health Care Network (VISN 17), provides primary specialty, and extended care of the highest quality to veterans throughout the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, eastern New Mexico, and southern Kansas. Approximately 25,000 patients are treated annually. The health care system maintains 55 acute care inpatient beds for general medical, surgical, and intensive care. Geriatric and extended care is provided in the 120-bed skilled nursing home care unit. A modern ambulatory care center and medical arts building facilitates the delivery of primary care, specialty care and preventive health services. The Amarillo VA Health Care System also ensures health care is accessible to those veterans residing in rural areas through three community-based outpatient clinics located in Lubbock, Childress, and Dalhart, Texas, as well as Clovis, New Mexico.

Mission:

The mission of the Amarillo VA Health Care System is to provide timely, efficient, ethical, safe, compassionate, and quality health care to veteran patients.

Vision:

The Vision of the AVAHCS is to become:

• The recognized leader of health care in our community / region
• The provider of choice
• The employer of choice

Core Values:

• Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.
• Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
• Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.
• Respect: Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.
• Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.

Facility Facts and Specifics

The Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center located in Amarillo, Texas is the main facility for the Amarillo VA Health Care System (VAHCS) which serves approximately 65,600 veterans in a primary service area to include 59 counties in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, eastern New Mexico, and southeast Kansas. It was constructed in 1939 and dedicated on May 12, 1940.

A division of the VA Health Care Network (VISN 17), the Amarillo VAHCS provides primary, specialty, and extended care of the highest quality to veterans, maintaining three community based outpatient clinics located in Lubbock, TX, Childress, TX, and Clovis, NM.

Approximately 25,000 patients are treated annually. The health care system maintains 55 acute care inpatient beds for general medical, surgical, and intensive care. Geriatric and extended care is provided in the 120-bed skilled nursing home care unit. A modern ambulatory care center and medical arts building facilitates the delivery of primary care, specialty care and preventive health services.

Specialized Programs include support of the CCHT Program through Telehealth Care Coordination, a home portable sleep study program, Outpatient Substance Abuse program and a VIST program. The VIST program manages services to blind veterans living in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The Amarillo VAHCS has dedicated Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom staff working in a coordinated effort to reach military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and help to make a seamless transition to veterans’ health care.

The Amarillo VAHCS provides an active teaching environment for medical students and residents through a formal affiliation with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The rotation includes approximately 40 residents in Internal Medicine, Family Practice, and Specialty Care. Other affiliations with Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy, Northeastern State University of Optometry, West Texas A&M University and Amarillo College provide a variety of educational opportunities in pharmacy, optometry, nursing and various allied health programs.