VA Medical Centers

[fpdoctor]

Anybody have any experience working at a VA medical outpatient facility as a family physician? What are the pros and cons?

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[Doctor Grim]

Anybody have any experience working at a VA medical outpatient facility as a family physician? What are the pros and cons?

I rotated through one of the VA CBOCs as a FM resident and also spent 6 mo. at the VA during my fellowship training.

I love the VA because it is very organized, state of the art EMR system, great hours, great benefits, and great pay (depending on your grade and experience but better than university salary and close to private practice because the gov wants to attract good physicians).

Cons-beureucratic-you have to follow a chain of commands-you have to use certain meds before you can prescribe some-some meds commonly used in "real world" are required to be prescribed by specialists/subspecialists.

But in general, I like it and wouldn't mind starting out my career at a VA.

 

[bunnymd]

Out of curiosity, what is the compensation for a geri-trained doc at the VA? I'm considering working there when training is done and can't seem to get an idea of take-home pay. I currently love the system and the EMR is a dream. Also, I've heard of small loan repayment through the VA...Is this true?

 

[iatrosB]

Out of curiosity, what is the compensation for a geri-trained doc at the VA? I'm considering working there when training is done and can't seem to get an idea of take-home pay. I currently love the system and the EMR is a dream. Also, I've heard of small loan repayment through the VA...Is this true?

The VA will pay 60K in student loan repayment.

One drawback to VA work as an FM is that you cannot work IN the hospital. Meaning, they will not let you manage/round/attend on your patients in the wards. This actually may be a plus for a lot of folks.

 

[EdibleEgg]

The VA will pay 60K in student loan repayment.

One drawback to VA work as an FM is that you cannot work IN the hospital. Meaning, they will not let you manage/round/attend on your patients in the wards. This actually may be a plus for a lot of folks.

However, you can work as a hospitalist.....

 

[Doctor Grim]

Out of curiosity, what is the compensation for a geri-trained doc at the VA? I'm considering working there when training is done and can't seem to get an idea of take-home pay. I currently love the system and the EMR is a dream. Also, I've heard of small loan repayment through the VA...Is this true?

I think you should be able to get a 6 figure salary-definitely better than university salaries. It also depends on your job responsibility-primary care/outpatient in FM vs. nursing home vs. palliative/nursing home vs. geri extended svce (geri outpatient) vs. palliative/hospitalist...the list and combinations go on and on depending on what ind of services your VA of interest offers. There is also a bonus based on performance as well

 

[fpdoctor]

Thank you for all of your input on the VA system. Regarding the student loan repayment- is this for all specialties and in all VA facilities? If that is the case, that will help offset the lower earning potential vs private practice. I am primarily looking at working as a family physician in the outpatient clinic. Please let me know if you have any more information about working at the VA centers.

 

[montessori2md]

Thank you for all of your input on the VA system. Regarding the student loan repayment- is this for all specialties and in all VA facilities? If that is the case, that will help offset the lower earning potential vs private practice. I am primarily looking at working as a family physician in the outpatient clinic. Please let me know if you have any more information about working at the VA centers.

VA jobs are posted on the USAjobs.gov website, just search "physician". I think starting is $110k, I couldn't say whether there are add-ons to that based on cost of living in the region, etc, but it seems likely that it's the bottom #.

 

[iatrosB]

However, you can work as a hospitalist.....

Negative

 

[EdibleEgg]

I'm pretty sure you are wrong. I recently left a job as a VA hospitalist. There were two FP's on the VA staff at my former med school. Where are you getting your information?

 

[iatrosB]

I recently left a job as a VA hospitalist.

What is your specialty? If it is FM, than kudos on landing a difficult job.

There were two FP's on the VA staff at my former med school.

Who worked on the wards?

Where are you getting your information?

1. VA administrator
2. FP resident who is looking for a VA job
and
3. A Colonel in my unit who is a FP in an outpatient position in the VA.

Maybe this is a regional policy, but I doubt it since the VA is a fed position. I hope my sources are wrong, it seems like a silly policy.

 

[Doctor Grim]

Maybe this is a regional policy, but I doubt it since the VA is a fed position. I hope my sources are wrong, it seems like a silly policy.

I agree with IatrosB.

Maybe it is regional?? Maybe at a rural VA you could do it?? I don't know.

But as a current staff physician in a metro VA and having an appointment from the medical school, I'm not allowed to do any inpatient even though I was trained as a fellow within the dpt of medicine.

 

[EdibleEgg]

It must be regional. I'm boarded in FP. There were two of us on a hospital staff of eight (in the Northeast). I trained in the Southeast, of the two FP's on staff (inpatient), one was double boarded in psych and one completed a geriatric fellowship. Maybe that made the difference. I'm really not sure. All I know is I worked as a VA hospitalist.

 

[Doctor Grim]

It must be regional. I'm boarded in FP. There were two of us on a hospital staff of eight (in the Northeast). I trained in the Southeast, of the two FP's on staff (inpatient), one was double boarded in psych and one completed a geriatric fellowship. Maybe that made the difference. I'm really not sure. All I know is I worked as a VA hospitalist.

Kudos to you

Maybe Medicine has a huge presence in some VAs. I could do inpatient at the university hospitals but not the VA.