Psychiatrist

Quick Facts

• Role: Psychiatrist

• Team: Core member of a multidisciplinary mental health team

• Setting: Inpatient and outpatient mental health care for Veterans

Description

Provide comprehensive psychiatric services to Veterans by assessing, diagnosing, treating, and coordinating care for a wide range of acute, chronic, and complex mental health conditions. The role includes medication and non-pharmacologic treatment, crisis evaluation and stabilization, interdisciplinary case conferencing, and continuity of care across settings. Document care in the electronic health record and support measurement-based care, suicide prevention, and quality/performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations (history, mental status exam, diagnostic assessment, treatment planning)

• Provide ongoing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment within scope of practice

• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and case conferences to coordinate care

• Prescribe for assigned Veterans and collaborate with an integrated care team (e.g., psychologists, social workers, nurses, peer support specialists, pharmacists)

• Assess and manage psychiatric emergencies, including suicide and homicide risk and behavioral disturbances

• Facilitate transitions of care between inpatient and outpatient settings (follow-up, medication reconciliation, coordination)

• Document clinical care accurately and timely in the EHR

• Provide clinical consultation to mental health, primary care, and medical/surgical teams

• Support measurement-based care, population health initiatives, and performance improvement (respond to clinical alerts and abnormal screenings)

• Conduct suicide risk reduction practices (Suicide Risk Assessments, Safety Plans)

• Maintain compliance with VA policies and professional standards (including Joint Commission/accreditation requirements)

• Participate in peer review and quality/performance improvement activities

• Provide supervision, education, and mentorship to trainees/residents as assigned

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal total rewards package

• Competitive salary and annual performance bonus, with regular salary increases

• Paid time off: 50–55 days per year (annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible CME-related paid absence)

• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K (up to 5% VA contribution)

• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options that may carry into retirement

• CME: possible $1,000/year reimbursement for full-time board-certified physicians

• Malpractice: free liability protection with tail coverage

• Contract: no physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting