Everyone wants something more from their jobs, and within VA’s integrated health care system, primary care providers like you can find more of what you need. In turn, you will play a vital role in providing whole health care to Veterans nationwide.
Here are 4 things you’ll find at VA that make working as a physician, nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA) a winning choice when you’re looking for more from your primary care career.
More time for patients
There’s truth to the adage that “time heals all wounds,” and one thing our primary care practitioners know is that, at VA, you’ll have the time you need.
For us, taking your time with Veterans is a priority. Not only does it help ensure their safety, but it also makes them feel valued, which is essential to forming meaningful, trusting physician-patient relationships.
Every day working at VA is a chance to spend time with those who have served our country and develop genuine bonds with Veterans who have diverse histories and complex medical concerns.
“On average, you’ll see 12-14 patients per day, giving you plenty of time to build a great doctor-patient relationship,” said Jason Tafoya, a national health care recruitment consultant.
More flexibility in treatment
At VA, our primary care providers are able to provide the highest quality health care when and how Veterans need it. There are no insurance concerns here, and our focus is on what will help heal Veterans, not what it costs.
“Have you wished that you could focus on the reason you became a doctor in the first place?” said Dr. Holly Martz, M.D., chief of primary care in the VA Martinsburg Health Care System. “At VA, you can order the tests your patients need without having to convince an insurance company—or worrying about whether they can afford it.”
“The most important thing to know about primary care at VA is you will never have to consider that your patient will not be able to afford their medications or medical devices needed to follow your care plan,” said Bryan Gregory, a VA physician provider recruiter.
“Our work is about what the patient needs, not about the bottom line or what insurance will reimburse. That’s liberating for the people who come to work here,” said James Marfield, associate director of VA’s National Recruitment Service.
More balance for you
In addition to other professional employment benefits, VA provides generous time off to help each member of our team find the right balance between life and work.
“What I didn’t expect was a system that allows me to go home after each shift feeling empowered rather than depleted and that acknowledges that physicians need time to rest and recover so that that they can give the best version of themselves to Veterans,” said Dr. Neil Patel of his work at VA.
To support our primary care professionals, we offer flexible schedules, as well as 13 to 26 days of paid annual leave, 13 days of paid annual sick leave with no limit on accumulation, 11 paid federal holidays, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave to help you make the most of life.
“Our physicians are able to have a work-life balance unlike any in the civilian sector,” said Brad Cargill, a physician provider recruiter. “At VA, you’ll know what it’s like to have your family count on you being there for games, anniversaries, birthdays, and special occasions.”
More options for your career
Our primary care practitioners are leaders in more ways than one, and you can find plenty of exciting opportunities even as you care for Veterans.
VA has been at the forefront of research and development for decades. This research has significantly contributed to advancements in medical care for Veterans, because we know part of health care is about finding new ways to help people feel better, faster.
“I came to the VA as a nephrologist [a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys] and discovered the wealth of VA research opportunities,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System.
Additionally, VA medical centers are often training grounds for new physicians. With more than 70% of U.S. physicians having received some training at a VA health care facility, you’ll have a hand in shaping the next generation of clinicians.
And your options aren’t just professional. One active, unrestricted license allows you to work with Veterans at any of our more than 1,300 facilities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and even some U.S territories. That’s an option you can’t find anywhere else.
Work at VA
It’s time to get more from your primary care career. Start your journey to a VA career today.
- LEARN what VA has to offer primary care clinicians.
- EXPLORE the benefits of a VA career.
- CONNECT with a recruiter.
