Career Center

The Saint Louis VHA healthcare System is actively seeking a full-time board certified/eligible Hospice & Palliative Care physician. Responsible for the provision of consultation services and follow-up for inpatients and outpatients requiring palliative care services. Responsible for providing palliative education to trainees and staff members as needed for job performance and closely with the palliative care APN and other Palliative Care Team members in the provision of these services. 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: Board certified/eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Preferred Experience: Preferred experience with providing inpatient and outpatient consultation services in Hospice, Palliative Care and Geriatrics is preferred including pain and other symptom management, patient care services in Palliative Care clinic, teaching Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows/medical residents/students, developing and providing education to St. Louis VHA staff and coworkers as needed, being an active participant and facilitator in the development of patient and family goals of care, facilitating access to appropriate supportive care services as well as transitions between the two divisions of the medical center as needed, appropriate documentation of patient care services, consultation with the Interdisciplinary Team in establishing plan of care, weekly participation in interdisciplinary team meetings to review active cases, sharing after-hours on-call and weekend rounding coverage of the Community Living Center along with other ECRS physicians, following bereavement surveys and participating in Quality Improvement projects. Beneficial traits should include a mature, warm, caring personality with a passion for Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Flexibility and a compassionate bedside manner are essential. Candidate must be self-motivated, and willing to take the initiative to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team in the Extended Care and Rehabilitative Service Line. Successful candidates will join a growing department and practice in a stimulating and diverse atmosphere and will be accountable for assuring the most effective delivery of care, while meeting and exceeding compliance standards. 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: include the following tasks which may be performed intermittently: lifting of up to 10 lbs., sitting (4 hours), standing (2 hours), walking (2 hours), bending/stooping (1 hour), twisting (1/2 hour), simple grasping (4 hours), fine manipulation (6 hours), reaching above the shoulder (1/2 hour), and operating machinery (1/2 hour). ["Clinical duties include but are not limited to: Oversees provision of controlled substance therapy (opioids, for example) provided to palliative care patients. Directs the provision of quality, consistent, coordinated palliative specialty care at facility and outpatient clinic Participates in direct patient care and serves as a role model for peers. Participates in committee work as assigned, especially in the Ethics team and with the Tumor Board. Has responsibility for conducting focused and ongoing professional practice evaluations (FPPE and OPPE) as assigned. Provides direct patient care in outpatient and inpatient wards, taking call when felt to be necessary to assure the care of the veterans. Completes required training, closure of encounters, billing, electronic view alerts, orders, medication renewals, travel requests, and other assigned tasks in a timely manner. Has responsibility for ensuring that services are provided in an efficient, high- quality manner. Contributes to the development, maintenance, and enhancement of relations with internal and external entities, such as in-home hospice agencies. Participates in local administrative, management, safety, quality assurance, performance, and other functions, meetings, or committees as assigned. The incumbent will need to participate in after-hours on-call coverage and weekend rounding duties at the skilled care and rehab facility (Community Living Center) at our Jefferson Barracks campus on a rotational/shared basis with other ECRS physicians. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid 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) 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 Work Schedule: M-F 08:00 -16:30, plus after-hours on call /weekend rounding on rotational basis"]

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