Physician Pain Medicine (Regular FT) VM-602-15

The Pain Medicine Physician will deliver comprehensive pain services as a core member of the Pain Medicine Section, supporting both patients and the broader Pain Management Team. This role provides care for Veterans within the Pain Medicine Section situated within the Neurology Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.

General Description of Assigned Duties The Pain Medicine Physician has specific responsibilities that include: Clinical: Perform comprehensive medical and functional evaluations for Veterans referred to the Pain Clinic, including history, physical examination, and review of diagnostic studies. Establish accurate pain diagnoses and comorbidities (e.g., substance use disorders, mental health issues) and, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, develop individualized, integrated treatment plans that emphasize functional restoration and self-management. Perform interventional pain care, including fluoroscopy and ultrasound-guided invasive procedures (e.g., epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablations, joint injections). Provide inpatient consultative services for Veterans admitted to the hospital experiencing acute pain, acute on chronic pain, or uncontrolled chronic pain. Provide medication management for chronic pain conditions, focusing on polypharmacy reduction, opioid risk stratification, and utilizing non-opioid analgesics and adjuvant medications. Manage opioid medications and perform opioid medication adjustments including tapers as indicated and in compliance with current VA/DOD Long-term Opioid Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines, and local VA policies. Evaluate, diagnose, and treat Veterans with opioid dependence/opioid use disorder and chronic pain, which may include initiation and management of buprenorphine products. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic studies necessary to optimize the pain care plan. Follows up with Veterans regarding results per VHA standards to discuss care plans, changes to therapy, and additional monitoring or testing requirements. - Provide clinical assistance to nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Provide training and supervision of physician pain medicine fellows working within the clinic. Complete all required electronic health record documentation in accordance with VHA standards, including timely, accurate entries for pain management activities, therapeutic changes, recommendations, procedures, and patient check-out (such as diagnostic and procedure codes). Ensures compliance with national and local performance measures, including prompt health screenings and completion of clinical reminders for patients. Perform other clinical duties as indicated and assigned. Administrative: Participate in program development activities, including data collection/management, policy development/adherence, and documentation, as indicated by section and service leadership. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, as well as pain committee and other pain meetings (e.g., data-based risk reviews), as indicated by section and service leadership. Participate in intra- and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and projects, as requested by section and service leadership. Academic/Teaching/Training: Provide supervision, education and training to Medical Center trainees, including residents, students and interns/fellows. Actively supports the Pain Medicine fellowship program with George Washington University by providing formal education, training and supervision of physician pain medicine fellows. Provide didactics/lectures to medical staff within the area of pain management, specifically pain-focused interventions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am EST to 4:30pm EST

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.