Psychiatrist

Quick Facts

• Role: Psychiatrist (outpatient psychiatry; face-to-face and telepsychiatry)

Description

The Psychiatrist provides outpatient psychiatric services, including face-to-face care and telepsychiatry, delivering medical care in accordance with approved privileges and applicable state and federal guidelines. The role includes screening and evaluating patients, conducting psychiatric evaluations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, prescribing and monitoring treatments, and providing psychiatric on-call coverage. Care is documented in CPRS, including required assessments such as suicide risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Screen, evaluate, and admit/enroll patients into psychiatry programs
• Conduct complete psychiatric evaluations (including mental status evaluation)
• Order diagnostic studies (e.g., lab tests, X-rays, EKGs) and evaluate results
• Provide psychiatric on-call coverage
• Initiate and refill psychiatric medications; prescribe evidence-based pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders
• Prescribe smoking cessation pharmacotherapy
• Monitor and record patient progress
• Obtain consent for hospitalization, tests, and medications
• Provide health promotion and disease prevention activities, including shared decision-making
• Provide education and counseling for patients and families
• Document orders and notes in CPRS
• Administer and document Suicide Risk Assessment in CPRS
• Provide telephone consultation with patients and family members
• Work with MHICM (Mental Health Intensive Case Management) as required
• Participate in committees/task forces/teams and provide clinical teaching and supervision (as assigned)

Benefits

• Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and regular salary increases
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, Federal holidays, and possible CME-related paid absence)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K (up to 5% employer contributions)
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• CME reimbursement possible: $1,000 per year (with board certification and full-time status)
• Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
• Possibility of recruitment/relocation incentives (sign-on bonus) for highly qualified candidates

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required (non-citizens only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy)
• MD (or equivalent) degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an approved institution
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state/territory/commonwealth or DC
• Residency training completed in an accredited core specialty program leading to board certification eligibility (with specified acceptable alternatives)
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Complete VA onboarding and pre-employment physical evaluation
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required
• Required screening/testing and identification documentation must be completed as part of pre-employment steps