Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Extensive Women's Health and Extensive Primary Care experience preferred
• Previous supervisory/leadership experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs Light carrying - under 15 lbs Use of fingers Both hands required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger to 1-4 Specific visual requirement: 20/50 one - 20/100 other Hearing (aid may be permitted)Mental and emotional stability Ability to hear conversational voice (aid permitted) Environmental Factors: Unusual fatigue factors: Driving up to 8 hours Protracted or irregular hours of work

Duties

• The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• This is an Open Continuous Announcement and may be extended beyond the current closing date until the position is filled
• Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis during the duration of the announcement
• Once a selection is made and offer is accepted the announcement may close pending no additional vacancies
• A offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jennifer Isbell-Gross (Jennifer.isbell.gross@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 This position is stationed at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)
• The Section Chief reports to the Associate Chief of Staff - Primary Care (ACOS-PC)
• The position duties include but are not limited to: Clinical: Performs and records history and physical examinations and records data from clinic visits
• Evaluates - consults - develops diagnosis - and manages the primary care panel of patients assigned
• Enters progress notes in computerized medical record and completes workload documentation in a timely manner
• Provides medical care encompassing acute and chronic medical conditions and all appropriate preventive care for both male and female veterans
• Orders diagnostic tests - medications - laboratory tests as medically relevant for each patient
• Provides timely follow-up on results - including completion of view alerts
• Determines medical assessment and develops treatment plans according to accepted protocols
• Prescribes medications according to approved formulary - and in accordance with Federal and State Law
• Educate patients concerning medical conditions and recommended treatments
• (Specific topics include nutritional counseling - need for smoking cessation - need for periodic immunizations and health screening tests - and other preventive health measures)
• Administrative: The Section Chief serves as the Point of Contact for Primary Care leadership regarding assigned areas of clinic program management
• Meets with providers in assigned clinics as needed to resolve issues or concerns and to pass along information from Primary Care leadership
• Contacts Veterans and/or their family members regarding Congressional correspondence - White House Hotline complaints - Patient Advocate concerns - and VISN inquiries involving care from teams within assigned clinics and completes all PATS-R submissions
• Interviews candidates for employment for assigned clinic areas as needed
• Provides training to incoming providers for assigned clinic areas
• May serve as Point of Contact for medical residents as the program develops
• Demonstrates a high level of initiative and independence in carrying out the administrative and patient care functions in accordance with VHSO and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and procedures
• Provides day-to-day supervision for all Primary Care clinical staff in assigned clinics and participates in the performance appraisal process for all direct reports
• Responsible for enforcement of VHSO policies - rules and regulations and the Medical Staff bylaws - rules and regulations within the assigned clinics
• Responsible for safety and environmental standards for the assigned clinics
• Serves as a resource person for standards development in health care in the area of quality improvement concerns
• Completes evaluation of direct reports with Focused and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation - ePerformance - and disciplinary action requirements in accordance with VHSO and VHA policies and procedures
• Serves as the clinic Medical Review Officer (MRO) - responsible for overseeing the requirements related to urine specimen collection and ensuring compliance with health guidelines
• Clinical and administrative time is anticipated at 50% respectively and is adjusted according to organizational need
• Work Schedule: 7:00am-3:30pm