Career Center

Summary

The Amarillo VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for an Physician (Emergency Medicine) located at the Amarillo VA Medical Center in Amarillo - TX. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

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: Board Certified Emergency Medicine
• Family Practice
• Family Medicine
• or Internal Medicine 2+ years of Emergency Medicine Experience ACLS - ATLS certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position requires light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds) - use of fingers - walking - standing - both legs required - specific visual requirement (be able to see computer) - and hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• The Emergency Medicine Physician will involve nearly 100% clinical duties and be professionally and clinically responsible to the Chief of the Emergency Department
• Work assignment is the Emergency Department
• The ED is staffed and equipped to provide initial evaluation - treatment - and disposition for a broad spectrum of illnesses - injuries - and mental health disorders - regardless of the level of severity
• Emergency care is provided in a clearly defined area dedicated to this function and operates 24 hours a day - 7 days a week
• Follow EM practice that is consistent and in line with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Model for the Clinical Practice of EM and emergent care that is congruent with the facility's capabilities
• Support and participate in the existing EMS system and provision of medical direction for the patients in the out-of-hospital setting (transports) - when appropriate
• Provide supervision - teaching - and guidance to medical and paramedical personnel including students - residents - MOD and other ED staff as needed
• Provide an evaluation and emergency care to individual patients presenting to the ED that is consistent with all applicable standards and regulations - including compliance with the intent of the Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1395dd
• NOTE: While not technically subject to EMTALA and the regulations implementing the Act issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - VA complies with the intent of EMTALA requirements regarding the transfer of acute patients among health care facilities In general - the ED Physician will manage a panel of patients in the ED during times of double coverage or see all ED patients during times of single coverage
• He/she will be responsible to evaluate & treat all triage levels 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - and 5 and assume care for complicated cases initially seen by APRN
• Perform bedside procedures like I&D - joint Injections/aspiration - suturing - PICC lines and other procedures as per need
• Maintain DO/MD credentials at the VA in Emergency Medicine
• Be available as a supervising physician to NP on duty in consultation regarding complex or unusual situations including patients requiring transfer
• Implements and monitors infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e. - hand washing - universal precautions/isolation procedures.) Supports a high profile of the VA Occupational Safety and Health Program by assuring employee awareness of potential safety hazards - promptly reporting all injuries - and effecting corrective actions necessary as directed - to eliminate safety and health hazards in the work area
• Follows Life Safety Management (fire protection procedures - emergency preparedness plan - security policies/procedures
• Complies with federal - state - and local environmental and safety requirements
• Protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws - Federal regulations - VA statutes and policy - and VHA policy
• Utilize all necessary word processing software to execute several office functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• inserting and deleting text - formatting letters - reports - and memoranda
• and transmitting and receiving e-mail
• Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) - Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - and the Graphic User Interface (GUI)
• Participates effectively in team meetings - conferences as Directed by the Chief of the ED Maintain the below qualifications - clinical competence and personal qualities as Work Schedule: Will Vary (To be determined by agency) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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