AcupuncturistL VA /Federal Government

[yeniseri]

I am not the hiring authority!

Veterans Administration (VAMC) is looking for acupuncturists to provide services to the veteran populations and are seeking qualified individuals to provide said services.
Here is the link: http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/jobs/Ac ... aign=agent
Positions are Hines, IL and Joliet, IL

Basic Qualifications are as follows:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: - U.S. citizenship-Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.-Education Requirements:

Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR

Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign acupuncture programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.- Certification: Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The board certification must be current and the acupuncturist must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. (COPY OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED)- Licensure: Must have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED)

[Peacedog]

This is starting to be a thing.

I've seen vacancies range between GS11 to GS13, with the GS13 being available to people with a doctorate. So, those PhD programs finally have value.

FWIW, the US Army and USMC are also looking heavily at incorporating acupuncturists into their systems as well. The USN is on the fence regarding the issue and the USAF is uninterested.

Curious times for a younger practitioner who can deal with lots of bureaucracy.

My only warning on jobs with the VA is to those who haven't "had the pleasure" of dealing with the VA as a healthcare provider. They are VERY administration heavy and will all but dictate to you how and what you can treat. That said, once you are in and past your probationary period getting fired is virtually impossible.

[Doc Stier]

Generally speaking, it has been my experience that interactions with State Medical Boards or other government health agencies is an intrusive, overbearing nightmare at best.

[yeniseri]

There is no doubt federal beaurocracy is a problem but for the VA, there has been a trend to use the (w)holistic approach to reach veterans' and assist them with their many domains of trauma, from mild to severe as part of intervention to facilitate healing. This Whole Health paradigm is a way to integrate allopathic and complementary modalities , where they assist one another as part of a process of care.

Introduction to the Whole Health Initiative: Link: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/features ... rience.asp
Link to VA Whole Health background complementary strategies for overall health. These are informational in nature! Link: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/veteran- ... /index.asp

[Peacedog]

I mention the administrative nature of the place as a lot of people get into TCM to "do their own thing." And the VA is definitely not that kind of place.

That said working with veterans is an experience unto itself and many find working there very fulfilling.

I would add that now is a good time to join. In the next 15 years the VA is going to downsize massively as the last of the conscription era veterans die from old age. The younger generation of Cold War and WoT is a much smaller group of people to work with. So having seniority before the downsizing will prevent getting RIF'd in the future.

[yeniseri]

Actually, there is an increase of OEF veterans and Iran veterans' but it appears to depend on the area of the country (Midwest, East Coast. West coast, and Pacific Northwest) a PTSD or alcohol unit is located.
Here is a link to wheel chair tai chi for veterans':
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/73914/teac ... -veterans/

Wheel Chair Tai Chi: Link: http://adaptivetaichi.org/veterans/

MInd Body for PTSD:
https://www.barefootdoctorsjournal.org/ ... -disorder/

Chaos and opportunity comes from the same source!