Psychiatrist Opportunity in Beautiful Anchorage Alaska - Outstanding VA Benefits Package

Psychiatrist Opportunity providing care to Veterans In

The Alaska VA Healthcare System

The selected candidate practices as a Psychiatrist within the Mental Health Service, which is primarily located within the Social and Behavioral Health Service (S&BHS). Practice may also take place through Tenemental Health Services, at the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Program (MHRRTP), or in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC’s) around the State of Alaska. The Staff Psychiatrist has delineated clinical privileges granted by the Medical Executive Board.

Direct clinical care duties and responsibilities (80% of position) include but are not limited to:

1. Providing direct mental health services for VA patients 80% of total available clinic time or 32 hours per week, or as determined by the Chief of Psychiatry and/or the ACOS, Mental Health;
2. Conducting history and mental status exams on assigned patients;
3. Completing intake assessments and formulating diagnoses;
4. Developing, documenting and updating treatment plans consistent with VHA guidelines and accreditation standards;
5. Participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings;
6. Ordering all necessary laboratory and radiological assessments;
7. Initiating and following up with consults/referrals as indicated;
8. Providing psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy as indicated;
9. Prescribing medications and supplies in accordance with VHA guidelines, state regulations and scope of practice;
10. Maintaining effective and up-to-date documentation of patient encounters;
11. Completing pertinent clinical reminders during scheduled appointments;
12. Providing health care education to patients and their families;
13. Acting as a consultant for other medical, nursing, and clinical staff;
14. Placing return to clinic orders for patients’ follow up care.

Administrative duties and responsibilities (20% of position) include but are not limited to:

1. Completing and closing patient encounters within VHA guidelines;
2. Preparing for scheduled patient encounters;
3. Participating with mental health and psychiatric services to include attending S&BHS staff trainings, Monday All Hands meetings, S&BH Monthly Meetings, Psychiatry Monthly Team meetings, and Psychiatry Peer Consultation group;
4. Participating in assigned VISN and National level calls and trainings;
5. Participating in development and implementation of service level projects such as completing tracers or performing Environment of Care rounds.
6. Participating in Professional Practice Evaluation activities;
7. Ensuring that any quality measure fallouts from Professional Practice Evaluations are reviewed and addressed appropriately;
8. Coordinating across the continuum of care from Primary Care Mental Health Integrated Care, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), and Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MHRRTP).
9. Supporting the Chief of Psychiatry and the ACOS of Mental Health in developing quality improvement practices to enhance service provision;
10. Participating in professional and administrative activities as assigned;
11. Remaining up to date on Service Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), Medical Center Policies (MCP’s), VHA Directives, VHA Handbooks, Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG’s), and accreditation standards.

III. SUPERVISORY STRUCTURE

The Staff Psychiatrist reports directly to the Chief of Psychiatry

Normal Hours:  Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Board Certification/Eligibility
• Must have full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in ANY U.S. State.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal)
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation – unused sick leave can be used to extend creditable service time at retirement!
• 11 Federal holidays per year with pay
• 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 basic benefits (pension), 12.7% of your salary is vested in the pension. (Government contributes 8.3% and employee contributes 4.4%) and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• 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 Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS) offers primary, specialty, and mental health outpatient care. Services are provided through a Joint Venture with the United States Air Force on nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base, as well as through purchased care arrangements with the community hospitals. The facility also features a comprehensive Homeless Veteran Service, consisting of a Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Program, Veterans Industries, Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence Program, VA Supported Program, and Outreach.

The Alaska VA Healthcare System offers primary, specialty, and mental health outpatient care. Services are provided through a Joint Venture with the United States Air Force on nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base, as well as through purchased care arrangements with community hospitals. The facility also features a comprehensive Homeless Veteran Service, consisting of a Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, Veterans Industries, Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence Program, VA Supported Housing Program, and outreach.

University of Alaska Anchorage *

University of Washington *

Alaska Family Practice Residency Program *

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 paid Federal holidays per year
• 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

Anchorage is the entry point for many Alaska visitors, who fly in to board a cruise ship or climb into a rental car and never look back. But this city is well worth visiting. The Alaska Native Heritage Center offers insights into the area's earliest inhabitants, and the Alaska Zoo is the place to see animals you might not spot in the wilderness. The Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest are within an hour's drive of Anchorage, so you can go hiking, fishing or whale-watching during the day and then kick back in a brew pub or top restaurant at night.

Anchorage is a rugged city beautifully settled between the base of the Chugach mountain range and Cook Inlet. An urbanized wilderness, humans are not the city's only inhabitants: We share the city with bears, moose and a small wolf pack. Year-round outdoor recreation is very accessible and venues are well-maintained to make the most of the city's setting. Anchorage is something rugged and wild, beautiful and urban all at once, so enjoy all it has to offer, and be sure to watch out for the wildlife!

Throughout the city are more than 400 miles of paved and unpaved trails maintained year-round for walking, running, in-line skating, biking and nordic skiing. The most popular trail systems include Kincaid Park, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Far North Bicentennial Park. Anchorage's most popular day hike is Flattop Mountain, accessible via the Glen Alps parking lot in Chugach State Park. Also accessible from the Glen Alps parking lot is Powerline Pass, an unpaved trail for biking, skiing or hiking that runs through a valley in the Chugach Mountains, connecting to Eagle River.