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. Preferred Experience: Training in Primary Care including BC/BE in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine is required and additional training in Geriatric Medicine and/ or Palliative Care are preferred. 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: The incumbent must be physically able to drive to the veteran's home to provide home health care to Veterans enrolled in the AVAHCS HBPC programs including HBPC, and Medical Foster Care. ["The Alexandria VA Health Care System is located in Alexandria/Pineville, Louisiana the 'Heart of Louisiana'. Alexandria is quickly emerging as one of the nation's best places to start a business, raise a family, and explore the great outdoors. It is a national leader in new and expanded business development and was recently named one of the twenty best cities in the country to find a job. National Geographic Traveler ranks Alexandria as one of America's top ten \"wilderness towns\" because of its incredible access to the one of the country's most beautiful and expansive national forests. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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. Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Contact Aaron Fernau aaron.fernau@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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. The Physician is responsible for the following duties, including but not limited to: 1. Collaborating with the HBPC Program Director and ACOS for GEC. Develop a close collaborative working relationship with the program director and the ACOS for GEC to develop and guide the growth of the HBPC Program. Implement the HBPC performance improvement plan, be the collaborative/designated physician of record for any HBPC nurse practitioners possibly supervise staff, sign program orders for HBPC patients, and be involved in education and/or research programs. Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of the HBPC performance improvement plan. Advocate for HBPC with VHA leadership and the medical community. Participate in selection HBPC Team members. 2. Completing assigned duties and tasks related to HBPC 3. Providing clinical input and oversight for all patient treatment plans for HBPC. 4. Being readily available to HBPC team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise. 5. Participating in HBPC team meetings. 6. Keeping the HBPC teams apprised of medical care advances and practice standards. 7. Arranging Physician coverage and communicating the plan of coverage to the HBPC team. 8. Collaborating with other HBPC Physicians, and/or Medical Directors, VISN leadership, and VA Central Office staff on program development issues. 9. The position requires administrative functions, clinical pertinence chart reviews, biannual performance reviews. It may occasionally require physician signatures of home health and hospice orders as well as death certificates. 10. Participation in the Geriatric and Extended Care Committee meetings, CLC interdisciplinary team meeting for palliative care residents, the CLC admission screening meeting is expected. ~Other Responsibilities In addition, the Physician will be responsible for: 1. Collaborating with community home health and hospice agencies as needed for HBPC patients. 2. Following HBPC Staff Safety procedures. 3. Complying with Medical Center and VHA regulations regarding the use of government vehicles. 4. Demonstrating work practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. 5. The incumbent may be expected to provide medical leadership support and medical administrative support to Home and Community Based Services. In the future, program development in HBPC may include other home care programs which will possibly include the advancement to HBPC Medical Director. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 to 4:30pm."]
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.
