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GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The position is in the Surgical Service at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, PA. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service, and as assigned. 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: Complexity - The work typically includes varied duties that require many different and unrelated processes and methods such as those relating to well-established aspects of Orthopedics. The candidate makes decisions relating to the identification, assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in adult and geriatric patients. Decisions regarding what needs to be done include the assessment of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, and incomplete or conflicting dat The candidate works closely with physicians, and other professionals to develop and implement treatment for the individual patient. The work requires making many decisions concerning such things as interpretation of considerable data, planning of the work or refinement of the methods and techniques to be used. 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: Pre-employment physical required. ["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 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 FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide care to our veterans including: The Orthopedic Surgeon must be able to provide the best possible care to our patients. This care must be delivered in accordance with hospital policy and meet community standards and pertains to outpatients as well as inpatients. The Orthopedic Surgeon will always work within their privileges which include to be able to work up, diagnose, and provide treatment to patients presenting with all orthopedic conditions. The Orthopedic Surgeon will provide expert consultation and treatment to patients, as well as perform minor procedures as appropriate. In this role, the incumbent will also provide feedback and patient education to the patients and their families and will demonstrate excellence in all facets of patient care. The staff Orthopedic Surgeon service as an active member on Medical Center committees as requested. Timely documentation (notes and encounter forms) is necessary in all areas in accordance with facility policy. The Orthopedic Surgeon provides direct patient care in all functional areas of the Specialty Clinic, Ambulatory Surgical Clinic, Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), and clinic settings as needed. The Orthopedic Surgeon is responsible for maintaining current clinical privileges and keeping licensure, BLS/ACLS, and all other appropriate documents up to date. The candidate maintains professional, technical, and administrative knowledge, competencies, and skills to provide effective leadership, direction for the service, timely, and quality responses to patient's clinical needs and problems. The candidate will assist in reviewing all equipment needs and forward to the Chief, Surgical Service and/or designee. The candidate provides and promotes high quality and effective care of its patients. The candidate complies with the credentialing and privileging process. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm."]

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