Summary

The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center is seeking an experienced and dynamic Physician (Emergency Medicine). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center. Board certification in Emergency Medicine highly preferred.

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:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States
• 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 & Registration: 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 a residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty Emergency Medicine - Internal Medicine - or Family Medicine Residency 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)
• 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
• NOTE: 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Preferred Experience: Board certification in Emergency Medicine highly preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 15 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use of cranes and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• Potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• Must be physically - emotionally and mentally competent and able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to yourself or others.

Duties

• 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
• 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 the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov - if you have any questions or concerns 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 The duties of the position include - but are not limited to: Provide urgent/emergent care via telephone or video and work collaboratively with other professionals in the Clinical Contact Center to support first contact resolution
• Receive referrals and provide direction for assessment - medical care - and follow-up - as appropriate to Clinical Contact Center nurse triage staff
• Perform histories and physical examinations on patients
• History and physical examinations will mostly use rely on the use of Telehealth technology
• Screen patients to determine need for further care
• Conduct handoff for direct referral to VISN 8 medical center for emergent or urgent medical
• Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice and order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests and imaging
• Consults may also need to be ordered
• Provide education and counseling of patients and families as it relates to medical conditions - follow-up care and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs
• Provide clinically appropriate follow-up care for previously evaluated patients based on results of lab work and imaging
• Minimal administrative work - but the physician will be required to attend staff meetings - team meetings - some committee meetings and complete some peer review evaluations
• Tasked special projects to the licensed independent practitioner as needed such as Veteran outreach to build awareness to the Clinical Contact Center and facility patient safety
• Will provide outside of assigned shifts to complete this work
• Emphasizes evidence-based medicine - urgent care clinical practice standards - care coordination - the use of computerized medical record system and continuous quality improvement based on individualized provider data
• Responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment independently - resolving most of the conflicts that arise - coordinating the work with others as necessary - and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives
• Provide Veterans with an optimal patient experience while supporting the Clinical Contact Center and Service missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients - caregivers - stakeholders and all Clinical Contact Center staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately
• Shall conform to all VHA and local directives related to safety - life safety - health - hazardous materials and emergency management directives
• Work Schedule: Compressed with eight 10-hours shifts per pay period from 9:00 pm - 7:00 am
• (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• This includes all weekends and holidays
• Shifts will vary per pay period in order to meet the needs of the Clinical Contact Center.)