Career Center

VA Palo Alto Health Care System invites outstanding candidates to join its PM&R/Polytrauma Service.

VA Palo Alto, The Veterans Affairs site, operates over 800 beds; three nursing homes, 100-bed homeless domiciliary serving and over 67,000 enrolled Veterans in addition to many more referred for higher level care. The VAPAHCS is a tertiary healthcare system that provides a comprehensive range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research – maintaining one of the top three research programs in the VA with multiples awards to the facility.  

The PM&R/Polytrauma Service encompasses 18 bed acute inpatient rehab unit, 10 bed Transitional Rehab Unit (PTRP), several Outpatient clinics including Physical Medicine, General Rehab, Stroke Rehab, Acupuncture, EMG, Ultrasound/PRP Injection, Headache, Amputee, and Adaptive Sports Clinics, a comprehensive outpatient rehab services to Polytrauma (TBI) patients through the Polytrauma Network Site (PNS) Service. Additionally, the PM&R physicians also provide medical coverage for the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center.

We seek a physician who is highly proficient in multiple areas of PM&R; Polytrauma (TBI management), possessing effective skills in supervising and educating PM&R residents/students/staff, as well as having dedicated interest and acumen in conducting high quality research in PM&R/Polytrauma and associated areas of medicine.

The position holds the potential for a joint academic appointment as the candidate is eligible for Stanford University School of Medicine as part of the affiliated faculty in the Dept of Orthopedics/PM&R. Faculty rank will be determined by the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Major criteria for academic appointment include excellence in clinical care and teaching, scholarly achievements, as well as institutional service appropriate to the programmatic needs the individual is expected to fulfill. 

Functions/Scope of Assigned Duties:

1. Provides medical/rehabilitation care to Veterans and active-duty personnel through clinical evaluation and treatment within the inpatient PM&R/Polytrauma programs and clinics, as defined by the Chief of Service. 2. Provides medical care and rehabilitation team coordination to veterans and active-duty personnel within the Polytrauma System of Care. 3. Ensures clinical appropriateness of the treatment plans of patients served, including timely and appropriate transition to other levels of care, notation of contraindications and precautions of care. 4. Supervises and educates/trains PM&R residents in clinical activities relevant to PM&R and Polytrauma. 5. Conducts daily rounds with the PM&R residents, nursing, and other members of the interdisciplinary team and communicates/interacts daily with the team as indicated. 6. Collaborates with other services to ensure appropriate and timely consultation and coordination of care. 7. Assists in the identification of training and educational needs for the Polytrauma System of Care and provides education and training for all members of the clinical staff as needed. 8. Assists in processing referrals of patients into the inpatient Polytrauma programs and general PM&R consultation within 48 hours of receipt. 9. Participates in telehealth encounters between PM&R/Polytrauma and the appropriate military treatment facilities (MTF) or other referral or consultation sources as needed. 10. Facilitates the provision of 24/7 rehabilitation physician coverage in the PSC. 11. Ensures the ongoing provision of care that complies with the "Organization Code of Ethics" for the VA (HCSM 00-04-19) 12. Participates in performance improvement activities of PM&R, WBRC and PSC/PNS, including TJC and CARF recertification. 13. Demonstrates the incorporation of necessary knowledge and skills into the assessment, treatment, evaluation, and continuation of care provided to the following age groups that reflects the physical, psychological, social, cognitive, pharmacological, and nutritional needs and characteristics of each age group, as based on sound growth and developmental principles and using established criteria: Young Adult, Middle Years Adult, and Older Adult. The position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the particular needs of these types of patients. Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients in respect to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved.

Basic Qualifications: Degree in Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy, with Board Certification (or pending diplomate) in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, with demonstrated clinical proficiency in all related areas of PM&R and associated disorders. State license, certification, or registration or trademark to practice medicine in a State, Territory, a Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. outlined in VHA Physician handbook. appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education: Professional Degree in Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy, Board Certification (or pending) in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. License: Full, current, and unrestricted Commonwealth of the United States. Requirements: Meet all guidelines English Language Proficiency: Physicians by 38 U.S.0 7402 (s) and 7407 (d)

Pay Range $115,000-$306,600

Incentives: 

•  Academic Appointment as affiliated faculty in Stanford School of Medicine, Dept of Orthopedics.
• Federal Benefits: The VA offers Physicians and all employees industry leading full benefits and features package to support high quality professional practice & favorable work-life-family balance.
• Paid Time Off in the form of 26 Days paid annual leave, 13 Days paid sick leave per year, 10 Federal holidays with pay, and 5-Day paid absence to attend approved CME 
• Insurance to include Health-Dental-Vision care insurance programs to choose from with premiums partially paid by VA; Flexible Spending Accounts; Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government; and Long-term care insurance available as an option
• Federal Retirement Plans thru the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - A three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS-FRAE basic benefits (pension); and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan, with up to five percent government matching
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) offers up to $200,000 over 5-years, tax-free and/or Recruitment Incentive with minimum 3-year service obligation.

For more information or to apply please reach out to alisa.merriott@va.gov

About VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.

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