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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• Urology Surgeon duties: Accountable for oversight of clinical and administrative management for assigned section/specialty Responsible for the quality of care delivered by the section/specialty assigned and accountable to any governing body for all aspects of that care performed by section/specialty providers Compliant and accountable for compliance with VA - VHA Bylaws - policies - and procedures Oversees section/specialty needs and assists with inspection of specialty clinical and administrative issues when directed as a part of VA - VHA - TJC (The Joint Commission - JACHO - OIG and any other audits Serves and participates in committees internal to VA as well as external when required Resolves conflicts within section/specialty to avoid disruption in patient care or clinic flow Development and implementation of policies - manuals - procedure guides - such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) as needed or required Maintenance and contribution to quality control programs as assigned or appropriate Is accountable for clinical - administrative - and surgical documentation - encounters - signed notes - consult review - and ensures timely entry and response Understands and uses proper Chain of Command when reporting issues or concerns to appropriate parties and keeps the Service Chief informed of any ongoing issues Resolves customer service issues for Section/specialty Collaborative team with surgeons - residents and operating room staff to care for outpatient/inpatient patients Screening patients - triaging consults - planning and scheduling clinic appointments accordingly Perform physical examinations - pre-operative and post-operative evaluation and care Ordering and interpreting laboratory - radiological and diagnostic tests Screen patients to determine need for further health care and/or admissions Prescribe and dispense medication in accordance with federal - state and local laws and policies Initiate and/or expedite request for consultations - special tests or studies Make daily rounds to observe and record patient's medical progress - update and summarize medical records - and change orders Communicates effectively with patients - families/significant others and other health team members throughout the facility Develop and lead interdisciplinary teams to improve organizational performance Base practice on current knowledge/technological advances and/or research findings Demonstrate effective program resource management skills (including documenting and reporting) Provide patient education Provide Basic Life Support Provide instruction to medical and allied health students Preform all clinical and surgical procedures within the scope of approved privileges Examine - diagnose - and medically treat disorders - diseases - deformities or injuries Will provide pre-operative evaluations to include but not limited to providing risks - benefits - alternative treatments and obtaining informed consent Will follow all local - regional and national policies and directives regarding Privacy and Security - stay up to date on trainings required by the position 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 david.billingsleyjr@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: Mon-Fri - 8:00am-4:30pm