Physician (Interventional Physiatrist)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment / Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN5HREDRPCoordinators@va.gov, 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 Job Summary The Physician (Pain Management) provides care for Veterans within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, WV. Services will be offered through a combination of in-person visits and virtual/telehealth appointments, in the outpatient and inpatient setting, within an interprofessional specialty care team that utilizes the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain Care and the VA Stepped Care Model of Pain Management. Major Duties, include but are not limited to: 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, spinal cord stimulator trials, intrathecal baclofen trials, intrathecal pump refills). Provide inpatient Chronic Pain consultative services for Veterans admitted to the hospital. 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. 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 collaboration with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. 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 didactics/lectures to medical staff within the area of pain management, specifically pain-focused interventions Work Schedule: FT, Monday - Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.