Primary Care Savannah

Are you a skilled Family Medicine Physician seeking a dynamic and fulfilling career? The Ralph H Johnson VA Healthcare System invites you to become an integral part of our esteemed Primary Care Service Team, dedicated to providing exceptional care to our nation’s veterans, in Savannah, GA. You’ll have the opportunity to serve those who have served our country, all while advancing your career in a supportive and progressive environment. We are committed to fostering professional growth and ensuring our staff have access to the latest technology and resources. Our Savannah VA outpatient clinic offers primary care and specialty health services, including mental health services, dermatology, gynecology, vision care (ophthalmology), podiatry, and more. We offer convenient, on-site parking and work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to attend medical appointments. Here at the VA, we don’t treat patients, we serve our nation’s Veterans. 

About Savannah: 

   Savannah Georgia is a charming city, abundant in Spanish moss, graceful architecture and rich history. Savannah is known for fresh cuisine that comes straight from the coast, striking antebellum mansions, manicured gardens, and beautiful parks shaded by towering live oaks. There are approximately 100 neighborhoods located within the city and surrounding areas, each with their own unique Southern characteristics. The Savannah Airport is just 15 miles away from downtown, making business or family trip convenient 

Job Responsibilities 
As a staff primary care physician within the North Charleston CBOC, you will provide comprehensive medical care to a panel of adult patients ranging from young adult to elderly. You will work with an integrated, multi-disciplinary healthcare team which includes primary care mental health providers that share responsibility for comprehensive medical and mental health care with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. 
• Serve as a primary care staff physician in a busy, dynamic, community outpatient primary care clinic affiliated with the Mental Health Care Line. 
• Provide comprehensive care to a panel of adult patients, from young adult to elderly with co-occurring mental illness. 
• Provide care to optimize patient health, work seamlessly with other health care team members and support patient satisfaction initiatives. 
• Contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, write orders for diagnostic testing, prescribe medications, consult with specialty services, and utilize computerized/electronic medical records. 
• Provide patient care in accordance with professional standards, core values and commitment to service excellence. 

Comprehensive Total Rewards Benefits Package, we offer the following: 

• Competitive Starting Annual Salary:?$ 238,000-270,000. Additionally, employees may be eligible to receive up to $15,000 in performance-based pay annually. Furthermore, employees can qualify for Proficiency Awards, which are available in addition to Pay for Performance incentives. Regular salary reviews will occur every two years, and all employees will receive cost-of-living adjustments annually. 

• Education Debt Reduction Program:?This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP),?a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements by VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. 

• Continuing Education: As a VA physician, you can earn CME credits at no cost. You can receive $1,000 or more annually and five days of paid absences to attend CME courses (conditions apply). 

• Paid Time Off: You will receive 208 hours or approximately 26 days of annual leave a year. Unlimited accumulation of paid sick time and 11 paid federal holidays will begin accruing upon entry. 

• Workers Compensation:?Consultation, review, referral, and processing support for all employees regarding work-related injuries and occupational illnesses. 

• Liability Protection:?VA physicians are covered under federal tort laws and may be defended by the United States against allegations of malpractice or negligence. 

• Health Insurance: With Federal Employees Health Benefits, choose from a variety of self-or family preferred providers or health maintenance organizations. 

• Dental and Vision Insurance:?Under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, supplemental dental and/or vision benefits are available to you and your family. 

• Flexible Spending Accounts:?Allows you to save tax-advantaged money for health care expenses with a Health Care or Limited Expense Health Care FSA. Think of it as a savings account that helps you pay for items that typically aren’t covered by your employee healthcare plan, dental and vision insurance program, or other health insurance coverage. 

• Health Savings Accounts:?A High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) provides traditional medical coverage and a triple-tax-advantaged way to help you build savings for future medical expenses while providing you greater flexibility and discretion over how you use your health care benefits. 

• Life Insurance:?Plan for what’s next with Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, which is group term life insurance covering you and eligible family members. 

• Pension:?Your basic annuity is computed based on your length of service and “high-3” average salary and become vested in the Federal Employee Retirement System, Basic/Defined Benefit pension after only 5 years of creditable civilian service. 

• Thrift Savings Plan:?A Federal 401k Equivalent with 5 % agency match. Allowing you to contribute up to $23,500 annual elective deferral to your account. Become vested after only 3 years of creditable civilian service. 

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 2025, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $23,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $31,000.
• 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

Facility Information:

Located in the historic part of the city of Charleston, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is an authorized 145 bed primary, secondary and tertiary care medical center that provides acute medical, surgical and psychiatric inpatient care, and both primary and specialized outpatient services in southeastern South Carolina and Chatham County, Georgia. The medical center supports the Vet Centers in North Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, and operates the outpatient clinics in Savannah, Georgia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Currently, the medical center is operating 98 beds and a 20-bed nursing home.        

 The medical center is closely affiliated with the Medical University of South Carolina and supports 84 resident FTEE in medical and dental specialties, as well students from nursing, pharmacy, social work and allied health disciplines. Charleston VAMC is a partnership site for the VA Nursing Academy in collaboration with the MUSC School of Nursing.  The Research Service has more than 100 research investigators involved in more than 300 research projects concerned with a broad range of health problems, most of which are prevalent in the Veteran patient population.  Areas of research include cardiology, endocrinology, diabetes mellitus, hematology/oncology, rheumatology, nephrology and alcohol-related disorders, and clinical and health service research in mental health, PTSD, hypertension and aging.

Affiliations

• Medical University of South Carolina
• Trident Technical College
• Armstrong University
• Savannah State University
• Midlands Technical College
• University of South Carolina

Authorized Beds

• 145

Type of Facility

• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary Care

Special Programs

• Primary Care
• Women’s Program
• VIST Program Smoking Cessation
• Research Service
• Interventional Radiology
• General Surgery
• Cardio-thoracic Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Urology
• ENT
• Ophthalmology
• Podiatry
• Orthopedics
• Audiology
• Speech Pathology
• Inpatient Mental Health
• PTSD
• Veterans Enrichment Center 
• Substance Abuse
• Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM)
• Electroconvulsive Therapy
• Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)
• Community Residential Care
• Geriatrics
• Care Unit (NUCU)
• Homemaker Health Aide
• Adult Day Care
• Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)
• Community Living Center (Nursing Home)
• Interventional Cardiology
• Palliative Care
• Pulmonary Services
• Pulmonary Function Test
• Sleep Studies
• Endocrinology
• Infectious Disease
• Dermatology
• Neurology
• Gastroenterology
• Hematology/Oncology
• Nephrology
• Hemodialysis
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Orthopedics Center of Excellence
• Bariatric Surgery
• Tele-Mental Health