Primary Care Physician - Intermittent Schedule - Casper, Wyoming

About the Physician Opportunity

The Primary Care Physician (Intermittent/Schedule Varies)  performs specialized treatment of complex physical and/or mental illness in the inpatient, or outpatient clinical settings. Treatment will include comprehensive assessments and ongoing care of the physical and medical need of individuals being cared for in the respective service/unit.

The population of male and female Veterans serviced ranges from adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. Age-related and cultural intervention appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs will be always employed, tailored to the individual patient, incorporating knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development.

Sheridan VA Healthcare System embraces patient-family centered care principles. The incumbent practices good customer service in all work activities; supporting the mission and vision of the Veteran Health Administration (VHA). Must be poised and articulate in communicating with people of caried educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds. Makes caring for the Veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrates customer service principles in all aspects of work. Willing to work cooperatively as a member of a team in all assignments.

About the Sheridan VA Health Care System

We are part of the Rocky Mountain Region Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN19). VISN 19 includes facilities in Colorado, Oklahoma, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Our health care system consists of our main facility located in Sheridan, Wyoming. Its a 200-bed medical center, serving as the psychiatry tertiary referral site for VISN 19. We provide complex care across the continuum ranging from acute inpatient mental health care to mental health residential rehabilitation and interdisciplinary outpatient programs, and prospective candidates will help drive an integrated and comprehensive approach to the care of a complicated Veteran population. Sheridan VAHCS bed complement includes 20 psychiatric, 10 medical, 55 extended care, 115 mental health residential beds, and a 45-bed Domiciliary Residential Treatment program for homeless Veterans. We have five Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Casper, Riverton, Cody, Gillette and Rock Springs, with two Telehealth Outreach Clinics in Worland and Evanston; and one Outreach Clinic in Afton, Wyoming.

About Casper and Wyoming

Breathe the fresh air of Wyoming. Casper is located in the heart of the Cowboy State, and is a hub for outdoor recreational activities. Casper has beautiful landscapes to get lost in. Whether it be Casper Mountain, the North Platte River, or Fremont Canyon’s rock walls, this year-round destination spot will satisfy the explorer’s quest for earth’s natural, untouched beauty. Lead a healthy and active outdoor lifestyle with activities such as biking, fishing, hunting, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and boating, just to name a few. Casper is a vibrant and family-friendly community, and able to offer a wide variety of amenities while maintaining a small-town identity.

Both primary medical and mental health services are available at the CBOCs. Those Veterans in need of services not available at a particular CBOC are either referred to the Sheridan VAMC, another VA facility within VISN19, or are scheduled locally for purchased care within the local community. For emergency care, all CBOCs activate the local 911 system and Veterans are taken to the local medical facility. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with extended hours on Tuesdays to 6p.m., excluding holidays.

Casper Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Casper CBOC Primary medical services include general medical care, preventive health, and basic diagnostic exams. Referrals to inpatient programs are made as appropriate. Both physicians and physician assistants are available to provide care on site, in addition to nursing and social work staff. Mental health services include individual and group therapy, medication adjustment, and smoking cessation. Prescriptions: Routine prescriptions are processed through the mail orMy HealtheVet.

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

153 miles S of Sheridan; 178 miles NW of Cheyenne; 300 miles S of Billings; 240 miles NW of Denver

Casper is a pleasant little city between the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains that owes much of its success to the oil and gas industry. Its first oil refinery was built in 1895, and though, like most boom towns Casper has had its share of ups and downs, the petroleum industry continues to help the economy keep rolling along. But what keeps many residents here, and what makes the community of interest to many visitors, is not what's under the ground but what is on the ground.

Casper has a small but fun ski area, and there is a lot of wildlife in the vicinity, including more than 75% of the world's pronghorn. Also look for mule and white-tailed deer, fox, and a variety of birds. The North Platte River, which meanders through the city, is a premier year-round trout fishery.

This is also an ideal spot to see the real history of the West. Casper stands at the crossroads of westward expansion, and in the ruts of the Oregon, Mormon, California, and Pony Express trails. Fur traders stopped here in 1812 on their way back East, building a hovel from rocks and buffalo hides, perhaps the first building constructed by non-Indians in Wyoming. Later, pioneers and Mormons crossed the North Platte River here. Then came the oil miners, and Casper boomed.

Today, Casper is the second-largest city in the state, with about 50,000 residents. It is also the former hometown of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.