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. 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. 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. 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: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 1 hour), standing (up to 1 hour), and both legs required. In addition, there may be exposure to the following environmental factors: working inside and outside, working closely with others, and protracted or irregular hours of work. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There may be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids. ["This is an open and continuous announcement, applicants will be reviewed and sent to the hiring officials every two weeks if eligible and qualified. This position reports to the Section Chief, Gastroenterology, Medicine Department. The Incumbent performs as a Staff Gastroenterologist within the Federal Healthcare Center with duties and responsibilities in the Gastroenterology Department. The incumbent performs initial and ongoing assessment of patients' medical, physical, and psychosocial status including conducting and dictating histories and physicals; developing treatment plans, performing rounds, recording progress notes, establishing working diagnoses, administering treatment, performing physical examinations, interpreting pertinent laboratory, radiographic, and other diagnostic studies needed for management of the patient. As a Staff Gastroenterologist, you will be responsible to provide comprehensive medical and selected specialty services for outpatients. Incumbent will provide patient care to veterans in the sub-specialty Gastroenterology in the form of primary care and/or consultative care. Incumbent will diagnose, treat, and manage patients with cardiac diseases according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods and techniques. Incumbent will provide services such as outpatient examinations, consultation services related to Gastroenterology, management of patients with current treatment regiment, and admission status as necessary. Incumbent will be required to maintain BLS certification and ACLS. Incumbent will attend Medicine Service meetings, and meetings with other medical center staff. Incumbent may be asked to serve on committees, participate in quality assurance programs, assist our facility to meet established performance measures in the area of Gastroenterology, and such other duties as assigned by the Chief of Gastroenterology. Incumbent will perform chart reviews and coordinate with Hospitalists regarding patient care issues. Incumbent will be responsible to document patient care data in electronic medical records such as history and physical exams within 24 hours; encounters for outpatients; consult notes; and, enter new and renewal prescriptions. Major Duties and Responsibilities Provide direct patient care specific to subspecialty in the inpatient and ambulatory clinic settings. Provide timely screening and resolution of consultations from other disciplines in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions specific to subspecialty to units/programs in the Medical Center to which they are assigned and have clinical privileges to practice including diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management. Order diagnostic tests and discriminate between normal and abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions. Documentation of care in the medical record in keeping with the bylaws of the Medical Center. Provide supervisory oversight for residents, fellows, medical students, NP/PA students, as appropriate, who are assigned to the Gastroenterology Service. Provide supervisory oversight of the clinical care on the inpatient service and ambulatory clinic of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants as appropriate. Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care. Provide weekend and holiday coverage of the Gastroenterology consultation service in rotation with other staff Gastroenterologist. Ensures that the practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission, CARF, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, VISN standards, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, mandatory continuing education, and HIPPA policies. 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 Work Schedule: 0800-1630, M-F Telework: ad-hoc authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
