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:

• 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: Must be board certified or board eligible in Internal - Geriatric or Family Medicine
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position may involve standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
• The work may involve going up and down flights of stairs.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT
• All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager on a weekly basis
• The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• The role of the Hospice and Palliative Care Physician within the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) is to oversee clinical and administrative staff - Palliative Care Outpatient Consult Clinic and Inpatient Palliative Care Clinic
• This Physician will provide leadership for the hospice and palliative care consults practices in the inpatient/outpatient setting at the Fayetteville VAMC
• They will be academically and clinically prepared to perform a broad spectrum of patient care services at the expert level
• In addition to providing primary health care - they serve as a consultant to nursing and medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs in the home
• This physician works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care and patient education - participating in research activities - and assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation techniques
• In addition - they will serve on medical center - VISN and/or national committees and assists in the development - evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice
• The incumbent will provide coverage in Community Living Center (CLC) and support Non-Institutional Care (NIC) including taking calls as needed and other duties as assigned as well as providing coverage for other departments within Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC)
• SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Primary care includes assessment - diagnosis - treatment and outcome measures of healthcare problems
• This includes the following: initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens - performing histories and physicals - ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies - initiating consultations and referrals - and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy - VA formulary - state regulations and scope of practice
• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care
• This physician will provide preventive medical care including screening
• collaborates with nursing personnel in the care of patients
• monitors the program to assure quality of care and meets performance measures
• Duties may include weekends - off tours and holiday coverage
• Palliative Care Physician will provide cross coverage for CLC Medical Director and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program Director
• The Palliative Care Physician may also be required to act as the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) when needed and other duties assigned within GEC
• The incumbent is encouraged to have a faculty appointment and be involved in academic activities
• When HBPC sites are not successful in recruiting a provider - the Physician will act as HBPC Medical Director
• The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will maintain on-time evaluations of new consults in the Palliative Care Clinic
• The Physician will provide medical oversight of the Hospice Care Inpatient Unit
• The Physician will support the Chair of Ethics - Hospice and Palliative Care - and Dementia Committee
• The Physician will also take lead on the Remembrance Ceremonies for Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) veterans - while supporting chaplain services
• And other duties assigned within GEC
• The Geriatrics/Hospice and Palliative Care Physician is accountable to the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care and Chief of Staff
• 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 are ineligible to apply
• Contact Cheryl Lahair at cheryl.lahair@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 - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM