Hot Springs, Arkansas Community Based Outpatient Clinic

Preferred Experience:  Performs psychiatric evaluations for a diverse population, including geriatric and post-deployment combat Veterans, who are mentally ill and who may have psychosocial issues such as homelessness, unemployment, or a poor family support network. Uses treatment guidelines, other medical literature, consultations, and experience to guide treatment recommendations.  Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions, including diagnostic assessments, medication evaluation and management, suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders. Documents evaluation and treatment thoroughly and timely.  Modalities for patient care include face-to-face, video teleconference, and telephone calls as clinically appropriate. The provider must be able to incorporate alternative encounter modalities into clinical care.  Ensures practice of psychiatric medicine is consistent with T JC, CARF,  HIPPA, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, and maintain mandatory continuing education.  Maintains appropriate licensing and board certifications as applicable.  Participates effectively in team meetings and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to enhance coordination of comprehensive patient care.  Functions as part of a psychiatric care team working with other physicians, PAs, APRNs, nurses and other support staff maintaining a respectful, collegial stance. If applicable, work as collaborating physician with PAs and APRNs as necessary.  Orders diagnostic tests and consultations. Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions. Orders diagnostic tests and consultations. Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions.  May be asked to perform on call duties depending on practice location, and other duties as assigned.  Primary responsibilities are outpatient Psychiatric Services.  Minimum 2 years post graduate mental health/psychiatric prescribing provider clinical experience (including psychiatric residency) strongly preferred.

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