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Summary The Central Texas VA Health Care System, Temple, Texas is seeking a full-time Physician (Home Base Primary Care Medical Director) to provide clinical oversight of all Non-Institutional Care (NIC programs to include all Home and Community Based Services, Contract Nursing Homes and State Veterans Home Programs) in collaboration with NIC program Manager. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Responsibilities The HBPC Medical Director is the senior clinician leader and is responsible for the overall medical care delivered by the HBPC team. He/she works in collaboration with the HBPC Program Director to meet the requirements of the program. The incumbent may have a faculty appointment and be involved in academic activities with affiliated Medical Schools, residency and fellowship programs. The incumbent provides patient care directly and/or through the supervision of licensed independent practitioners (LIPs), residents, fellows and/or medical students in the home setting. In addition to their role as clinician, the HBPC Medical Director will have administrative responsibilities for leadership and direction of HBPC development and programs, as well as effective interface with the HBPC staff. The HBPC Medical Director will participate fully in all accreditation processes, reviews, and site visits. The incumbent will provide direct patient care which includes assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome measures of healthcare problems. This includes the following: initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens, performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consults and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, Federal & state regulations, and scope of practice. Collaborate with in house specialty clinics as well as community providers. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. Administrative Responsibilities: The HBPC Medical Director is responsible for collaborating with the HBPC Program Director to: 1. Provide leadership to the HBPC Program. 2. Determine appropriateness and eligibility for veterans referred to HBPC program. 3. Plan and direct the educational and clinical experience of medical students, residents and fellows assigned to the HBPC Program. 4. Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of the HBPC performance improvement plans. 5. Advocate for HBPC with VHA leadership and the medical community. 6. Jointly select HBPC Team members. 7. Providing clinical input and oversight for all patient treatment plans. 8. Being readily available to the team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise. 9. Participating in HBPC interdisciplinary team meeting and other meetings as arranged to ensure clear, effective communication. 10. Keeping the HBPC team apprised of medical care advances and practice standards through regular educational activities. 11. Arranging physician coverage and communicating the plan of coverage to the HBPC team. 12. Collaborating with other HBPC Medical Directors, VISN leadership, and VA Central Office staff on program development issues. Clinical Responsibilities: The HBPC Medical Director, in collaboration with the HBPC interdisciplinary team, is responsible for: 1. Assuming primary medical responsibility for HBPC patients. 2. Identifying the patients' medical problems. 3. Defining the medical management of these problems. 4. Determining the need for consultation from medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric subspecialty clinics as well as community care. 5. Determining the need for, and facilitating, admission to the hospital. 6. Visiting the HBPC patients at home, when appropriate. 7. Serving as collaborator for advanced practice nurses and/or physician assistants. 8. Providing medical administrative support such as signing forms requiring physician signature for the HBPC patients. 9. Possess DEA licensure to prescribe controlled substances II - V. Other Responsibilities: 1. Collaborating with community home health and hospice agencies as needed for HBPC patients. 2. Following HBPC Staff Safety procedures. 3. Complying with Medical Center and VHA regulations regarding the use of government vehicles. 4, Demonstrating work practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized 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 Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 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. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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. Licensure and Registration: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified In Internal Medicine/Family Medicine and Geriatrics or Palliative Medicine 3-5 years experience in Geriatrics or Palliative Medicine/Home Care 1-2 years of experience in supervising and collaborating with NPs 2-3 years of supervisory experience in the VA/Community Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (4-6hours); Standing (4-6hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted). Education 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, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate 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. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.