Psychologist Practice Opportunity

The Department of Veteran Affairs is seeking Psychologists. The opportunity provides the ability to care for a diverse population of patients that have served this great Nation. The Augusta Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC) is a level 1a, medical school affiliated, two-division Medical Center that provides tertiary care in Medicine, Surgery, Specialty Care, Neurology, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehab, Primary Care, Geriatrics, and a dedicated Spinal Cord Institute serving a multi-state catchment area.

The Medical Center is affiliated with the Augusta University [AU], in Augusta, GA and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical center, integrating clinical care, teaching, and research, making it an attractive academic and research Medical Center.

Psychologists must have completed an Internship and PhD from an accredited APA or CPA program.

Positions are available in the areas below:

Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP):

The psychologist in the MH RRTP, often referred to as the Domiciliary or Dom, functions as part of an interdisciplinary mental health team, which consists of a clinical pharmacist, nurses, nurse practitioners, peer specialists, physician assistants, social workers, vocational rehabilitation staff, etc. The MH RRTP psychologist independently diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological and/or cognitive screenings and/or assessments, and provides psychotherapy for Veterans for a variety of mental health conditions as a part of a general mental health residential treatment program, in which treatment and services are delivered in person. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities, and may provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training.

Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP):

The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) psychologist functions as part of an interdisciplinary mental health team, which consists of other social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurse case managers, peer support specialists and clinical mental health pharmacists. The BHIP psychologist independently diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological and/or cognitive screenings and/or assessments, and provides psychotherapy for patients for a variety of mental health conditions as a part of a general mental health program. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training.

Trauma Recovery Clinic (PTSD Clinical Team):

Clinical Psychologists in the outpatient Trauma Recovery Clinic, will practice as a specialist in Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. TRC Psychologists are integral members of an interdisciplinary treatment team, which consists of Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Nurse Case Managers, and trainees. The incumbent will be able to independently diagnose psychiatric disorders, conduct comprehensive psychological and/or cognitive evaluations, and provide trauma-focused psychotherapy. TRC places an emphasis on, evidence-based psychotherapies and utilizes a recovery model of care rather than symptom management. Therapies include, but are not limited to, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET). The clinic also offers skill-based groups and is interested in adding Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) as a therapy option soon. TRC staff communicate with a daily huddle and weekly protected team meeting times to develop treatment plans and ensure quality mental health care to our Veterans. Staff can participate in committees and workgroups with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Psychologists may also be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.

Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI):

The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) psychologist provides a full range of mental health services to Veterans enrolled in the Primary Care clinics. Services include diagnostic, psychological, and cognitive screening assessments; psychotherapy; psychoeducation and caregiver support; and prevention-oriented services, with an emphasis on the application of time-limited, evidence-based approaches. The PCMHI psychologist utilizes evidence-based and best practice approaches to assist Veterans, caregivers, and staff in managing behavioral factors associated with chronic medical problems and in promoting medical compliance. The clinician functions as a full member of the Primary Care clinic teams and provides ongoing team consultation services to other Primary Care clinic team members. PCMHI psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities, and may provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training.

Major duties of the Clinical Psychologist in these clinics include, but are not limited to:

1. Provide a full range of diagnostic/evaluation services in the areas of PTSD evaluation and suicide risk assessment.
2. Emphasize individual/group evidence-based treatments to Veterans.
3. Participate in a shared decision-making model of care to collaboratively determine which psychotherapy modalities are most appropriate based on the Veteran's individual and intersecting cultural factors, goals, strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences.
4. Ensure appropriate documentation to include measures of effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.
5. Developing, implementing, and documenting the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt clinical reminders.
6. Delivering services both in person and via video technology.
7. Actively participating in the Psychology Training Program Committee Meetings, Didactics, and Integrated Case Conferences.
8. Serving as clinical supervisor for the PTSC rotation (TRC) and General MH (BHIP) rotation, to include holding regular supervision hours, conducting performance reviews, and reviewing clinical sessions conducted by interns.
9. Conducting didactics for interns on specialty topics.
10. Assisting in the ongoing improvement of the Psychology Training Program.

Work Schedule: Monday Friday; 8am -4:30pm 

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Salary Range: $82,994 - $153,780 per year

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: 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 completing review of the EDRP application.

Augusta is a two-division Medical Center that provides tertiary care in medicine, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine, and spinal cord injury. The Downtown Division is authorized 155 beds (58 medicine, 37 surgery, and 60 spinal cord injury). The Uptown Division, located approximately three miles away, is authorized 285 beds (68 psychiatry, 60 domiciliary, 15 blind rehabilitation and a 142-bed Restorative Care Center comprised of 132 nursing home care beds and 40 rehabilitation beds).

Through the Joint Venture for Shared Services agreement with Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Army surgeons perform neurosurgery at the Augusta VAMC for both VA patients and DoD beneficiaries. In addition, Cardio-thoracic surgery is performed at Eisenhower Army Medical Center for VA and DoD patients by Army surgeons. The Joint Venture for Shared Services provides for the cost-effective sharing of resources between these two federal health care facilities.

The medical center enjoys a strong affiliation with the Medical College of Georgia. The Augusta VAMC provides medical and allied health training to an average of more than 1000 students and residents annually. Additional health training affiliations exist with 50 academic institutions.

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