Physician (Psychiatrist)

Physician (Psychiatrist)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Los Angeles, California

Salary Range: $290000 - $335000 Per Year

Job Summary: The Chief, Mental Health Emergency Department (MH ED) & Inpatient Attending Psychiatrist, is a dual leadership and clinical role within the Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MHBSS) at the West Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. The incumbent will provide strategic oversight, clinical leadership, and administrative management for the MH ED, in addition to serving as an attending psychiatrist for the inpatient mental health unit.

Major Duties:

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Yes Learn more. EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or 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 Clinical Leadership & Oversight: Provide direct psychiatric care in the MH ED, including evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of Veterans presenting with psychiatric emergencies. Lead interdisciplinary teams in managing psychiatric crises, including risk assessments, hospitalization determinations, and care transitions. Implement clinical protocols and best practices in psychiatric emergency care. Administrative & Programmatic Leadership: Develop and implement policies, procedures, and workflows to enhance efficiency and quality of care in the MH ED. Monitor key performance metrics and implement quality improvement initiatives. Collaborate with emergency medicine, social work, rehabilitation programs, and law enforcement to improve patient outcomes and crisis response. Supervision & Training: Supervise and mentor MH ED staff, including psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and trainees. Provide clinical oversight for psychiatry residents rotating through the MH ED. Conduct case reviews and debriefings to enhance staff skills and optimize patient care. Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Coordination: Serve as a liaison between the MH ED and other units including primary care, and Mental Health programs. Ensure seamless transitions of care from the MH ED to inpatient and outpatient services. Lead or participate in interdisciplinary meetings and committees to enhance mental health crisis services. Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Intervention Policy Development: Develop and refine emergency mental health policies in collaboration with hospital leadership. Participate in system-wide initiatives to enhance psychiatric crisis management and suicide prevention efforts. Provide training for hospital staff on managing psychiatric emergencies. Direct Clinical Care: Provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and management for Veterans admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit. Develop and implement individualized treatment plans. Conduct daily patient rounds and oversee treatment team meetings. Address complex psychiatric presentations including severe mood disorders, psychotic disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Supervision & Teaching: Supervise and mentor psychiatry residents, medical students, and other trainees on the inpatient unit. Provide didactic and bedside teaching on psychiatric evaluation and treatment strategies. Interdisciplinary Team Leadership: Lead the inpatient psychiatric treatment team including psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other specialists. Facilitate treatment planning meetings and ensure adherence to evidence-based practices. Promote patient-centered treatment and rehabilitation. Care Coordination & Discharge Planning: Work closely with case managers and social workers for effective discharge planning. Facilitate continuity of care through coordination with outpatient services. Collaborate with Veteran families and community providers. Quality Improvement & Program Development: Participate in performance improvement initiatives. Engage in peer review activities and contribute to clinical guidelines development. Support hospital-wide efforts in suicide prevention. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., PST.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. 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. 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). Education. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How to Apply: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/16/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBSX-12845791-26-CLY in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-16