Pain Psychologists

Posterity Group LLC is a veteran owned, service-disabled small business, headquartered in Rockville, MD, that specializes in federal government contracting and staffing. We are tasked with staffing VA New York Harbor Healthcare System with Pain Psychologists. The Psychologist is expected to do the following:  

The Pain Psychologist would work out of one of the two VAHC CBOCs (Community Based Outpatient Clinics):

Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus

423 East 23rd Street

New York, NY 10010

OR

Brooklyn VA Medical Center

800 Poly Place

Brooklyn, NY 11209-7104

• Assess the patient prior to development of treatment plans and goals.
• Implement plans in accordance with initial evaluation findings for treatment aimed at prevention, reducing disability or pain, restoring lost function, and increasing participation in meaningful activities.
• Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions at each visit, which may include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, biofeedback, mindfulness-based interventions, and psychoeducation.
• Monitor the extent to which services have met therapeutic goals relative to the initial and all subsequent assessments at each visit.
• Determine the degree to which improvement occurs and, when appropriate, revise the treatment plan at each visit.
• Provide education to patients, families, and/or significant others regarding the psychological aspects of chronic pain, interventions to reduce existing deficits, and management of any residual deficit in resumption of life roles in the home and community at each visit.
• Perform chart review prior to each scheduled appointment and obtain a subjective history of assigned patients.
• Respect confidentiality and follow established policy regarding patient records, including mental health and substance use records protected under 38 U.S.C. 7332.
• Re-evaluate and upgrade treatment plans at intervals determined by Pain Management Service and Mental Health Service policy within 24 hours of the patient's visit, greater than 90% of the time.
• Document and code in the electronic medical record an initial, progress, and final evaluation including measurable goals, goals achieved, treatment provided, and functional outcomes per Psychology department documentation policy guidelines. Document patient education per VA policy.
• Observe VA policies and procedures relating to infection control, Fire and Safety, Information Security, and Patient Safety (mandatory training)
• Communicate, consult, and work cooperatively with other team members to provide comprehensive patient care.
• Assist in the day-to-day operation of the department as appropriate.
• Consult with patients and their families regarding educating, training, and advising them about their chronic pain condition/disability. Issue home practice programs to improve/maintain achieved therapeutic goals.
• Assessment for the presence of psychological, emotional, and cognitive factors contributing to chronic pain.
• Determination of function-related problems, including rationale or basis for making the assessment.
• Development of individual psychology treatment plans.
• Use of validated assessment data to implement individualized treatment programs.
• Choice of therapy techniques best suited to the condition of the patient to achieve maximum results.
• Assessment of psychosocial and environmental barriers to pain management and function

• Full, current, and unrestricted license
• Valid BLS
• Valid NPI
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-12 level, including experience in behavioral health interventions for chronic pain.
• Minimum of two years of experience in health psychology, behavioral medicine, or chronic pain management may be required dependent on specialty area (e.g., telehealth pain management, substance use comorbidities). When applicable, specific requirements will be identified in the RFQ and Fair Opportunity notice.
• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from a graduate program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).
• Completion of a pre-doctoral internship accredited by the APA or CPA.