Addiction Psychiatrist in Birmingham VA, Alabama

Have you considered Birmingham, Alabama? From family friendly fun with the great outdoors to  the speed and excitement of the Talladega Speedway.  Birmingham has tons to offer! 

VA Birmingham Health Care System (BVAHCS) is seeking a highly qualified, Board Certified,  Addiction Psychiatrist. As an Addiction Psychiatrist you will provide care to Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders as part of an integrated team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, peer support specialists, and clinical pharmacists throughout the BVAHCS (inpatient, residential, and emergency department). The ADTP team is a passionate, fun, energetic, and collaborative group. The culture of the team is supportive, and an emphasis is placed on creating opportunities to build relationships with colleagues. The team holds daily meetings to staff cases, collaborate on Veteran care, program development, and engage in activities that promote a positive work environment. 

The VA Birmingham  Health Care System Addictive Disorders Treatment Program is a comprehensive addiction program that consists of several levels of care in accordance with ASAM guidance. ADTP provides referrals and care coordination for Veterans who meet criteria for ASAM level 4 (medically managed treatment) and level 3 (residential services) programs. ADTP provides ASAM level 2 and level 1 services which includes: a partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient program, early recovery program, relapse prevention program, harm reduction, motivational enhancement therapy, specialty groups, outpatient detoxification services, and medication assisted treatment. ADTP works closely with community partners to incorporate recreational and social aspects into addictions treatment. Veterans engaged in ADTP services have access to staff supported CrossFit classes, yoga, community service projects, and organizations that help the Veteran explore hobbies/interests in recovery.

The Addiction Psychiatrist is a valued member of the team and works closely with RN’s, the Care Coordinator, peer support, and the ADTP supervisor to provide outpatient detoxification, medication assisted treatment, addiction consultation/liaison services and teaching Psychiatry Residents and Medical Students. The Addiction Psychiatrist provides cross-coverage as needed throughout the outpatient Mental Health Section. This position requires 3-4 weeks per year of home call (psychiatry resident is first call) and in-house rounding on the weekend. Weekend days are compensated by having weekdays off. 

Duties of Addition Psychiatrist include but not limited to:

• Diagnose and treat substance-use disorders as well as potential coexisting psychiatric disorders (dual diagnosis) and should be able to recognize;
 
• Diagnose, and treat the disorders concurrent with the substance abuse issues;
 
• Recognize certain health effects from illicit drugs in order to properly treat;
 
• Will provide consultation and works with a multi-disciplinary team;
 
• Services include individual, family and group counseling;
 
• Intensive outpatient services;
 
• Crisis intervention;
 
• Dual diagnosis;
 
• Detoxification and medication management and linkage to community-based services and support;
 
• Provide virtual care including video and telephone-based care to serve patients over a geographic area.

About the VA

Department of Veterans Affairs offers Veterans the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the United States. We operate more than 1,400 sites of care, including 153 medical centers, 909 ambulatory and community-based outpatient clinics, 135 nursing homes, 232 Veterans centers, 47 readjustment counseling centers, and 108 comprehensive home-care programs, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.

EDRP Authorized: Up to $40,000 a year, up to 5 years.
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 restrictions on moonlighting

Facility Information:

The Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) is a 313-bed acute tertiary care facility located in the historic Southside district of the city. The facility provides acute tertiary medical and surgical care to Veterans of Alabama and surrounding states. The medical center serves as a referral center for this population area with 139 operating beds currently. Recent construction provides state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in all clinical programs. Care is provided in practically all medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. Most staff physicians have joint appointments with VA and its primary affiliation, University of Alabama at Birmingham. The BVAMC operates nine Community Based Outpatient Clinics in North Alabama.

Affiliations

• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Samford University
• Tuskegee University
• University of Alabama
• University of South Alabama
• Auburn University
• Vanderbilt University
• Florida State University

Authorized Beds

• 313 Authorized

Type of Facility

• Tertiary Care

Special Programs

• Palliative Care
• Open Heart Surgery
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Hemodialysis
• Neurosurgery
• Chemotherapy
• Nuclear Medicine
• Mental Health Clinic
• Home Based Primary Care
• Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center
• Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
• Research and Development

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