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
• Education: 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
• 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: (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
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board Certification in Infectious Disease Preferred Experience: -Completion of residency/fellowship training in Infectious Disease -Experience/knowledge in care of HIV - Tuberculosis - STD's - and other communicable diseases -2+ years of experience in treating patients of this specialty -Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking (8-12 hours) - standing (8-12 hours) - repeated bending (8-12 hours) - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4 - specific visual requirement (far vision 20/30) - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid permitted) - emotional and mental stability - sit for extended periods - and cognitive stability.

Duties

• The Specialty Service Mission is to lead satisfied staff dedicated to providing high quality patient centered care here at the Amarillo VA Health Care System (AVAHCS) - a great tertiary training and research Veteran's Hospital
• The Infectious Disease position supports this mission through administrative dependability - direct or virtual patient care - and support of their Section's educational and research activities
• The Infection control position is critical to the mission for quality improvement and patient safety
• In addition to observance of Federal national and local regulatory - policy - and accreditation requirements governing this Health Care System - this position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities overseen by their Section Chief
• Staff physicians require appropriate time mapping and resources to ensure they are empowered to meet expected proficiencies in administration - clinical practice - education - and research
• You will provide patient care - either direct or virtual - that is compassionate - appropriate - and effective for the promotion of health - prevention of illness - treatment of disease - and care at the end of life
• Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical - clinical and social sciences - and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others
• Remain up to date in virtual care practices
• To ensure practice-based learning and improvement - you will use scientific evidence and methods to investigate - evaluate - and improve patient care
• Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients - families - and other members of the health care team
• Demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development - ethical practice - and understanding and sensitivity to diversity - and a responsible attitude toward their patients and their profession
• Demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided - and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care
• You will provide patient care services - either direct or virtual - during off tours (nights - weekends - and holidays - as needed by the organization
• Provide supervision and leadership for an Infection Control team if applicable
• Oversee collection of infection control data
• Provide analysis of collected data as relevant to quality improvement and patient safety
• Direct and support feedback to involved parties in order to promote excellence in hospital care
• Supervision of residents is a major duty of this position
• Practitioners are expected to show effectiveness in teaching - monitor and coordinate educational activities - and comply with necessary trainee supervision
• 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 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 Work Schedule: Part-time
• 8:00am-4:30pm