Career Center

Summary

The VAMC in Lexington - KY is recruiting for a full-time Geriatrics Float Physician - who provides direct patient care including the Community Living Center (CLC) - Palliative Care program - and the Geriatric Clinic - based on the needs of the service. Works under the direction and oversight of the Chief - Geriatrics and in collaboration with a team of interdisciplinary staff - (pharmacists - psychologists - social workers - chaplains - NPs - PAs - PTs - OTs - STs - and registered dietitians - among others.)

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 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: Board Certified/Board Eligible in Internal or Family Medicine (required) with preferred experience in Geriatric Medicine Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties include - but not limited to: Practices in the outpatient setting in the Lexington VA Health Care System
• Physician is responsible for the evaluation and management of patients with geriatric syndromes to include preventive healthcare for elderly patients
• Identifies high risk veterans that will benefit from geriatric primary care and completes consults for streamlining the patients to the clinic
• Manages complex medical conditions - evaluates the medical - psychosocial - environmental factors and co-morbid condition in elderly patients
• Serves as a consultant to an interdisciplinary team to include nursing and midlevel medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs
• Interacts daily with the interdisciplinary team members to achieve dedicated geriatric care for frail veterans
• Provides Palliative Care services when indicated - completes Palliative Care outpatient consults and follow-up visits in the Geri Palliative clinic
• Optimizes medication regimens by reviewing polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in collaboration with PharmD
• Ensures the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical care provided to patients eligible for Palliative and Hospice care services in consultation with the Palliative Care Consultation Team
• Ensures that Palliative Care Consults - Inpatient and Outpatient - are processed and answered timely
• Provides a continuum of Palliative Care services across various settings to include but not limited to: Acute care - Community Living Center (CLC) - Outpatient consultative clinics - HBPC - ED - Geri Palliative clinic - as well as the Infusion room
• Participates daily as a member of the CLC Screening Committee providing Palliative care report on HPC patients referred to the CLC
• Acts as the HPC consultant for the facility providing feedback as needed through e-consults or directly when contacted
• Assists in discharge planning to ensure effective transfer of patients from acute care to CLC - CNH or discharge home with community hospice services - as necessary
• Performs other duties as assigned
• VA 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 Betsy.Quinn@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 Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 7:30AM- 4:00PM - excluding Federal Holidays