Psychiatrist

Welcome to Pensacola, Florida. Located in Florida’s panhandle, Pensacola is surrounded by 50-plus miles of coastline which includes the emerald-green Gulf of Mexico waters and crystal-clear bay areas. This makes Pensacola the perfect combination of a relaxed beach town and bustling metropolitan center. The temperate climate and a friendly community that is driven toward success present an unparalleled quality of life.

About the Company

The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System serves Veterans across Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, providing comprehensive, high-quality medical care through a network of state-of-the-art facilities. As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we are committed to serving those who served, offering advanced medical technology, collaborative work environments, and a strong mission-driven culture. Physicians who join our team enjoy work-life balance, competitive federal benefits, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes.

About the Role

The Pensacola VA Clinic is seeking a passionate psychiatric physician to bring high-quality healthcare directly to veterans in the Gulf Coast region, offering primary care, mental health services, and specialty care in a modern, well-equipped setting. Physicians at this facility enjoy the flexibility of working in a dynamic outpatient environment while benefiting from the strong support network of the larger Gulf Coast VA system. With a focus on patient-centered care, innovation, and community impact, the Pensacola VA Clinic is an ideal place for providers looking to serve those who have served our country.

Responsibilities

• • Management, psychotherapy, suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders.
  • Conducts patient care services through face-to-face and telehealth mediums, to include, but not limited to, video and telephonic mediums and is responsible for completing current suicide awareness and prevention-related training and demonstrating the ability to implement associated suicide prevention screening, evaluation and safety planning.
  • Ensures the practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with the Office of the Inspector General, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, The Joint Commission, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, and mandatory continuing education.
  • Conducts psychiatric examinations and treatment, psychopharmacologic evaluation and treatment, coordination of medical care with the Internist and Nurse Practitioner, coordination of consultations, referral of patients, operation of quality assurance and utilization programs including peer reviews, open and closed medical record reviews and utilization reviews.
  • Actively and effectively participate in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborate with multidisciplinary team members.
  • Participates as Champion or on work groups or committees related to system redesign, performance measures and safety.
  • Coordinates preventive healthcare needs according to guidelines established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and sound psychiatric practice.
  • Has clinical privileges to practice may include any mental health symptom, syndrome, or diagnoses identified in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and in various clinical settings, to include inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, etc.
  • Maintains an active knowledge of the patient care processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the medical center, and its clinics and using the computerized medical record system for progress notes, orders, and medical record review and completion of such records in a complete and timely manner.
  • Arranges and provides coverage for provider absences; works with the service Coordinator on issues pertinent to the service; develops provider staffing models; coordinates resource requests with the service Coordinator for submission to top management; tracks workload; and supervises physician staff including professional development plans, recruitment/retention, and disciplinary issues when appropriate.
  • Exercises independent judgment in the practice and provision of patient/program services (clinical care, consultation, and education). Largely operates independently on a day-to-day basis, with full responsibility to keep their supervisor apprised of activities and any issues in need of close collaboration.

Qualifications

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine

Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any of the US States
• Work Schedule: Full-time, permanent position. Shared call rotation required.

Pay range and compensation package:

In addition to the honor of serving America’s Heroes, a career at VHA provides a robust total reward$ package (see full brochure here) and offers many benefits including:

• Flexible work schedules and shifts
• Low patient-provider ratios
• Robust insurance coverage
• The ability to work anywhere in the country with an active license
• Stable employment with competitive salary and regular pay increases
• 50 days annual paid time off (26 days paid annual leave, 13 days paid annual sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays) in addition to other leave options including paid parental leave

The Sergeant Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic is designed to enhance access to health care for Veterans residing in the surrounding rural areas. As the healthcare system continuously works to transform delivery of care for Veterans in North Florida and South Georgia, this facility not only meets the needs of Veterans today, but assist in facing the challenges of tomorrow.

The VA Clinic provides a broad range of general and specialized medical, dental, surgical, psychiatric, nursing and ancillary services. This clinic serves acute and chronically ill eligible Veterans. Our Veteran patient population requires a complexity of care that ranges from minor health care needs to urgent care. Veterans requiring hospitalization are assessed, stabilized and transferred to either local facilities or to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center according to the urgency of their needs. Procedures or specialty care not provided by this clinic are referred to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (Gainesville).  

• In October 2016, the Tallahassee VA Outpatient Clinic (OPC) moved to its current location.
• In 2018, the clinic was rededicated and named the Sergeant Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic.
• Since then, the Sergeant Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic has experienced continued growth in both the number of individual Veterans accessing the facility and number of appointments requested and completed. 
• As of March 2021, more than 12,000 Veterans were enrolled to receive care at the Sergeant Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic. 
• The clinic is approximately 150,000 sq. ft. 
• The facility offers ample patient parking.
• Clinic hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Services Available to Veterans 

• Clinical Video Telehealth Services
• Colonoscopy
• Counseling Services
• Dermatology
• Hematology/Oncology
• Immunizations
• Lab Work
• Mental Health
• Occupational Therapy
• Primary Care
• Pulmonology
• Social Work
• Substance Abuse Services
• Women’s Health

Pharmacy 

For Pharmacy requests call 850-513-7119. Veterans may also request medications mailed.

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