Career Center

Hospice & Palliative Care Section Chief (HPC) Physician is needed for inpatient (inpatient consults and Hospice and Palliative Care Unit) and outpatient HPC clinic in Geriatrics and Extended Care Service (GECS) at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. The physician is academically and clinically prepared to oversee LIPs and perform a broad range of patient medical care utilizing evidence-based medicine while respecting patient goals and values. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Board Certified in one or both of the following: Geriatric Medicine and/or Hospice & Palliative Care. Physical requirements outlined below. 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: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires: light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.); light carrying (15 lbs. and under); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); kneeling (up to 1 hour); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; mental stability; working closely with others; and working alone. ["The HPC Section Chief supervises physicians (MD), physician assistants (PA) and advance practice registered nurses (APRN). Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Providing administrative (supervisor and section) and clinical oversight of all HPC programs. Planning, developing, and maintaining a comprehensive program to ensure compliance with applicable standards. Ensuring the implementation and maintenance of standards for medical providers and forecasts requirements necessary to maintain and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical care. Participates in establishing policies, procedures, and guidelines for the delivery of services. Recommends clinical privileges for medical providers and functions as Supervising/Collaborating physician for providers in HPC section. Advises the ACOS/GECS about the adequacy and appropriateness of the scope of services, space, and staffing levels to the needs presently and in the future. Coordinate's providers assignments, covering inpatient/outpatient (including cross-covering), yearly proficiencies, and communicates staff availability on a regular basis to all appropriate GECS sections and staff members. Communicates provider responsibilities and medical care policies, procedures, and guidelines to all providers in HPC section. Review new consults with team members during regularly scheduled huddles. When required for patient care, he/she will enlist community partners providing skilled or specialty care including hospice. Evaluate referrals for appropriateness for assignment to GERIPACT or and discuss referral with the primary care physician, the patient, and the appropriate GEC physicians. Cross coverage for ACOS and other HPC Physicians during absences, as well as night on-call coverage of patients in Community Living Center (CLC) and Hospice and Palliative Care unit (HPCU), and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC, when contacted by HBPC APP On-Call) which is shared among all GEC physicians. This includes occasional weekend and holiday coverage. Attendance and participation at GEC meetings, VISN 8, National, and section is expected. Provide education and mentoring to other interdisciplinary team members, patients, and families, and referring physicians. Contributes to the training of medical students, Internal Medicine residents and Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellows, and other interdisciplinary trainees. Readily available to the HPC team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise. Keep the section apprised of medical care advances and practice standards. Work collaboratively with VA staff and community partners and participate in performance improvement activities and research where appropriate. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. and includes limited On-Call responsibilities.\nEducation Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Eligible *See \"Additional Information\" section below for more details.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]