This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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. Additional Requirement: Board certified or board eligible. GI experience preferred. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Periods of long standing. Occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects. Long periods of sitting at a computer station. The need for high degree of accuracy, potentially stressful situations, and the ability to adapt work plans based on patient status. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidates. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Must apply once selected Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Contact 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-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm The Gastroenterologist Physician will work full time as a resource for Eastern Kansas Health Care System (EKHCS)-Topeka campus. Provides competent care to a diverse Veteran population with consideration for differences in cultural, socio-economic, military service and age-specific criteria Obtains relevant health and medical history Performs physical examination based on age and history Performs or orders preventive/diagnostic procedures based on client's age and history, including but not limited to Endoscopies such as EGD and Colonoscopy Identifies health and medical risk factors Applies critical thinking in the diagnostic process Synthesizes and analyzes collected data Formulates differential diagnosis based on history, physical examination, and diagnostic test results Establishes priorities to meet the health needs of the Veteran Formulates individualized treatment plan Orders additional diagnostic tests Selects appropriate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions Develops a patient education plan. Initiates consultation/referral as indicated Establishes priorities for interventions Provides individualized care appropriate to meet Veterans identified needs Implements interventions consistent with treatment plan Initiates interventions based on scientific principles, current knowledge, and level of clinical expertise Orders, conducts and interprets diagnostic tests accurately, and conveys those results to the patient Prescribes specific pharmacologic agents and/or nonpharmacologic therapies as indicated Demonstrates current knowledge of advance pharmacology and therapeutics Follows any standardized procedures accordingly Implements current clinical guidelines/pathways Provides relevant patient education Makes appropriate referrals to other health care professionals and community agencies Participates in peer reviews as assigned Utilizes appropriate health care resources Obtains informed consent when appropriate Maintains a process for systematic follow-up Evaluates effectiveness of treatment plan promptly Documents effects of interventions and outcomes of care in the patient record accurately Reassesses and modifies plan as necessary to achieve health care goals Serves on committees, teams, workgroups, and chart reviews as requested/approved by administration Completes all training as mandated by VA The Gastroenterologist Physician will be responsible for a variety of duties which involves the development, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive health care plan for patients within scope of specialty Provides ongoing inpatient or outpatient care for patients in the Physicians assigned clinical setting When consulting in an inpatient setting, makes inpatient rounds, as appropriate, to observe and record each patient's medical progress, updating and summarizing medical records, changing orders when appropriate, and notifying the responsible physician of significant changes in the patient's condition In the outpatient setting, evaluates outpatients and managers acute and chronic illnesses according to the usual scope of care to include attention to maintenance of stable conditions, preventive health care and screening. Consult with other physician(s) regarding diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of outpatients as indicated."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VA health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers. Our medical center provides primary care and specialty health services, including cardiology, mental health care, treatment for spinal cord injuries and disorders, suicide prevention, women’s health services, and more.
The Grand Junction VA Medical Center services those who serve our country providing critical medical services including acute and chronic inpatient and outpatient care. The facility consists of 53-bed capabilities for surgical procedures, specialty care, psychiatric in/outpatient services, as well as a Community Living Center, and social programs and services. The service area encompasses western Colorado and eastern Utah regions and includes the primary VAMC plus four satellite clinics.
