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 (one to five 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:

• Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: 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
• Licensure: 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: 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 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 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
• Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching - standing - walking - and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care
• This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level - during the provision of patient care - including retrieval of needed equipment - supplies and to make contact with the patient
• This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care
• This position is typically non-sedentary - and frequently involves being in the standing position
• This position requires moving about accomplish tasks - such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next
• This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position
• Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next - i.e.- from the exam table to the chair - and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Duties

• The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area offers physicians an exceptional balance of professional fulfillment and personal well-being
• The region supports a strong and collaborative medical community - providing opportunities for interdisciplinary work - teaching - and research while maintaining a manageable clinical pace
• Physicians appreciate the area's affordable cost of living - short commute times - and access to reputable schools and safe - family-oriented neighborhoods
• Set against the Pocono Mountains - the region also offers quick access to outdoor recreation and an easy drive to major academic hubs like Philadelphia and New York-making it an attractive location for both career growth and a balanced lifestyle
• This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus as a percentage of your of annual salary per year for up to four years of service - and the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) to pay up to $200 -000 in qualifying loans! In addition - salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics
• Major Duties and Responsibilities Consultative services for new and established cardiology referrals in an outpatient clinicsetting for a broad range of disease processes with opportunities for complex managementof: heart failure - chest pain - coronary artery disease - valvular heart disease - cardiomyopathy -etc
• Diagnostic interpretations for echocardiograms (performed both in Allentown Outpatient Clinic and Wilkes-Barre) - EKGs - Ambulatory Cardiac Monitors - Stress Tests (nuclear portion interpreted by NuclearMedicine) Apply American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and VA guidelines to themanagement of cardiovascular diseases Cardiovascular Risk Stratification for preoperative evaluations Collaboration with cardiology PA-Cs located in Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center Participation in activities to foster cardiology fellowship program Attend meetings and may be asked to serve on committees Perform chart reviews as part of peer ongoing professional practice evaluations Care modalities to include face-to-face and VVC/CVT Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of the Medical Service at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (sign-on bonus): Authorized (eligible for up to 15% of salary per year for up to four years of service) EDRP Authorized: Authorized (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive) Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• 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 providedContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 8am to 430pm
• Rotating call schedule.