Physician - Pain Medicine Specialist

This Pain Medicine Specialist position requires the incumbent to provide patient care, direction, oversight, administration and leadership in the management of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The VA Puget Sound Health Care System has an academic affiliation with the University of Washington (UW) and as such, this position participates in the education of medical trainees, therefore a clinical appointment at UW is included.

Duties include but are not limited to: Providing and assisting with the coordination of care for chronic pain patients enrolled with the Pain Service. Providing consultation service locally and regionally for providers working with complex chronic pain care and providing education to patients and to providers regarding safe and sustainable chronic pain care and effective functional restoration of patients suffering with chronic pain. Completing detailed history and physical exams, as well as health inventories, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies and prescribing appropriate medication and other treatment modalities. Developing, evaluating and managing medical treatment plans intended to achieve defined outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life as part of a coordinated multidisciplinary treatment team focused on safe and sustainable chronic pain care and functional restoration of patients living with chronic pain. Diagnosing and treating complex chronic pain problems and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Ordering, performing, reviewing, analyzing and following up on appropriate diagnostic/laboratory test results, including any registries necessary to monitor and support the patient's medication therapy, and communicating findings to patients and other providers, including additional surveillance and/or testing requirements necessary as per VA policy. Reviewing non-VA records and updating CPRS and/or other electronic health records with outside records. Performing suicide and opioid risk screenings and assessments.

Treating inpatients and outpatients with chronic pain and providing opioid reduction, harm reduction, and opioid safety/Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services as needed. Providing patient care via multiple modalities, including in person, video, and telephone visits on an individual or group basis, as well as electronic consults for referred patients for comprehensive pain management. Assisting in the development, coordination and implementation of Pain Clinic workflows, programs, initiatives, and therapies.

Participating in events such as weekly Tele-Pain/SCAN-ECHO conferences, UW Anesthesiology Grand Rounds and VAPSHCS Anesthesiology Morbidity and Mortality conferences, as requested and as appropriate to work tour. 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. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30AM to 4:00PM. Telework: Ad hoc may be available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified and eligible applicants. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.