Staff Physician

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (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 appointment. 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. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be determined by highly qualified candidates Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Ms. Ronda Eady at ronda.eady.va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/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 The incumbent duties and/or responsibilities are (but not limited to) the following: He or She promotes quality patient care as a clinical expert in Community Living Center Care setting. Works as a mentor, preceptor, consultant, and researcher who works collaboratively with other health care professionals to accomplish patient, service, and hospital goals. Uses assessment skills to examine patients thoroughly using appropriate clinical, laboratory and other pertinent data; Ensures proper follow-up for assigned panel of patients. Acts in carrying out patient appointments in the assigned time. Accurately interprets and evaluates clinical data for the purpose of determining diagnosis and clinical status. Initiates appropriate and timely treatment; Recognizes changes in behavior, symptoms, signs, and other pertinent facts about the patient and has the ability to modify the plan of treatment when indicated. Acts quickly in recognizing emergency situations and taking timely necessary action. Maintains confidentiality of patients and relatives through competence and interpersonal skills; Acts as a consultant in informing patients in the treatment effort. Demonstrates the ability to recognize the need for consultation to other facility specialty areas, as well as, does not obtain consults inappropriately. Promptly and completely reports physical examinations and changes in patient status Maintains clear, accurate, and current clinical records Completion of medical records in a timely manner per hospital regulations. Processes view alerts and all other patient notifications in a timely manner generally within 72 hours. Complies with Medical Staff bylaws Provides continuity of patient care by performing patient hand-off when transferring care to another physician. Serves as a mentor in the role of teacher for fellows, resident, trainees, and other employees. Plans and guides the educational activities to meet the individual needs of the learner. Develops courses, lectures, and/or programs to facilitate objectives. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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. 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) 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. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Additional Requirement: Completed the Certifying Examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Board of Family Practice Preferred Experience: ~Selects, develops, and conducts literature search on researchable problems that are relevant to the health care of veterans and has reasonable expectations of successful conclusion. ~Establishes goals and effectively executes a plan to insure successful completion of a research project. ~Prepares timely, completes and orderly reports communicating the results of research and development. ~Assures acceptable standards of patient care; Maintains accreditation and other standards; Interacts effectively with the professional school and/or medical community; Adequately supervises assigned nurse practitioners; Ensures chart reviews are done and corrective action is taken as needed. ~Collaborates and coordinates with other professional, technical, and administrative staff. ~Demonstrates willingness to serve effectively on committees, boards, survey, and audits. ~Demonstrates ability to plan, organize, and coordinate the administrative, clinical, or educational programs. ~Participates in Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement and Peer Review activities. ~Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation despite external pressures or inner tensions. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: ~Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds ~light carrying under 15 pounds ~pulling hand over hand (< 1 hour), pushing ( < 1 hour) ~reaching above shoulder ~use of fingers ~both hands required ~walking (1-2 hours) ~standing (1 hour) ~kneeling (< 1 hour) ~repeated bending (< 1 hour) ~both legs required ~near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 ~far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other ~both eyes required ~depth perception ~ability to distinguish basic colors ~ability to distinguish shades of colors ~hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: Outside and inside, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles, working with hands in water, vibration, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work. Education 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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.