Physician (Primary Care)

Duties of the physician:

• A primary care physician will be responsible for delivery of primary care to patients and will manage scheduled and unscheduled patients in the outpatient clinic setting.
• The primary care provider is an integral member of the PACT teamlet and is expected to work closely and coordinate patient care with other PACT teamlet members, including nursing and clerical staff. Primary care physicians will participate in daily huddles with other teamlet staff and participate in primary care systems redesign projects.
• A primary care provider in the outpatient setting is assigned a panel of patients to manage under PCMM guidelines; recommended panel size at the division level is calculated based on support staff and room availability. Each provider's panel size is specific to their practice and setting.
• Alternative or collateral duties may include management of a subsection of primary care patients, the subsection may be defined either by a disease status (e.g. spinal cord injury patients), or demographic status (women veterans, OIF/OEF veterans, employees etc). Typically these duties are designated at the time of joining but may be assigned in the course of employment in response to new initiatives.
• Primary care physicians may have responsibility for supervision of or collaboration with primary care mid-level providers. Physicians are expected to provide clinical oversight and to participate in peer review of other primary care providers through periodic chart reviews.
• Primary care physicians will be responsible for supervision, education and evaluation of internal and/or family medicine residents and medical students in the outpatient primary care setting.
• Primary care physicians will act as surrogates for absent primary care providers when needed, to include review of CPRS view alerts.
• Primary care physicians will regularly attend primary care staff meetings, departmental meetings and medical staff meetings.
• Typical work hours are Monday to Friday 8-4.30 PM, and a full time provider is required to work a minimum of 80 hours per pay period.
• All physicians need to follow departmental and VHA policies for leave and attendance and will work within Title 38 appointment guidelines. VHA guidelines do not permit overtime pay for physicians, however comp time may be granted for physicians who are asked to work outside their normal assigned tour of duty. Leave should be requested as far in advance as possible and with at least sixty days notice in order to minimize patient cancellations. All unscheduled absences must be properly communicated, and patients should be rescheduled within time frame as specified in department's policies.
• Timely documentation (notes and encounter forms) is necessary in all areas in accordance with facility policy. All administrative work should be completed in a timely fashion.
• Clinical reminders should be addressed as medically appropriate. Quality of care should meet professional standards at all times.
• All physicians will work within their privileges at all times, unless necessitated by an emergency.

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630