Primary Care Physician

This announcement is open until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Eligible applicants will be referred each week for consideration until the positions are filled. For additional information, please contact Heathre VariRiper at (989) 497-2500.

Battle Creek, MI, known as "Cereal City," is located in Calhoun County off I-94, midway between Chicago and Detroit. The city has a rich history and promising future in food brands, research, and training, being home to Kellogg Company's world headquarters and other significant corporations like Post Cereals, Ralcorp, and Duncan Aviation. The city is revitalizing its downtown for food science and innovation industries.

Battle Creek's Air National Guard Base, commercial airport, and industrial park are diversifying the economy and attracting global businesses in military, aviation, aerospace, and alternative energy sectors.

The city combines the serenity of country living with urban amenities, boasting numerous parks connected to Battle Creek and Kalamazoo rivers, offering outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Various community festivals enhance the cultural and recreational offerings.

Moreover, Battle Creek offers affordable living with a cost of living significantly lower than the national average. It has 26 neighborhoods with diverse housing options, a linear park with 26 miles of trails, and a variety of dining and shopping venues. With homes selling quickly and options for different budgets, the city is ideal for starting a career, raising a family, or retiring, thanks to its strong community and natural beauty.

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICAN: The Primary Care Physician (PCP) is the leader of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) (physician, RN, LPN, and clerical associate) which provides direct care for Veterans enrolled in Primary Care at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center or at one of its 4 VA Clinics.

SCOPE OF PRACTICE: The PCP is assigned responsibility for a panel of patients at a specific location. However, the physician may be asked on some occasions to assist in patient care or administrative duties at the main hospital or at another site.

The PCP:

• Provides clinical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases, preventive care, and coordination of care for a panel of primary care patients. Appropriate documentation of patient care in clinical records is expected.
• Refers to specialists when additional input and treatment outside of the scope of the physician's experience and training is required.
• Is responsible for monitoring PACT teamlet performance to assess adherence to VA standards, assure quality and effectiveness of care, and meet VA performance measures. Outstanding customer service is expected.
• Leads the team in assisting the patient advocate and administration in resolving patient concerns and inquiries.

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• 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:
  • (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
  • (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
  • (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
  • Exceptions:
    • 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 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.
    • In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

• Previous experience as a Primary Care physician providing direct patient care.
• Board Eligibility or Board Certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine or Family Medicine is preferred.
• Prior VA experience is a plus.

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.