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: In geriatrics In providing medical care for patients with dementia or serious mental illness In long term care experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Satisfactory physical examination as determined by the Employee Health Unit upon appointment only
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 ( http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/HRLibrary/Dir-Policy.htm )
• Functional requirements include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.)
• moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.)
• walking and standing and standing for 2 to 4 hours
• Both legs required
• Both eyes required ability to distinguish basic colors
• ability to distinguish shades of color
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• (hearing aid permitted)

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN7EDRPFacilityCoordinators2@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 The Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Service Line provides healthcare services in a variety of settings for chronically ill Veterans who require care by interdisciplinary health care teams to provide continuity and coordination of care for the integration of diverse service to cover complex medical - social - rehabilitative and behavioral care needs
• The Community Living Center (CLC) provides an inpatient setting for both short term and long-term care
• Long-term care involves comprehensive care in an institutionalized setting for greater than ninety days
• The CLC strives to mimic home settings as much as possible
• Veterans admitted to the secure CLC neighborhoods specializing in the care of Veterans with dementia or serious mental illness are continually reassessed for opportunities to transfer to less restrictive settings
• Short term care in the CLC includes - but is not limited to - subacute rehabilitative care - skilled nursing care - restorative care - hospice care and respite services
• The CLC Staff Physician is responsible for the overall medical care delivered to inpatients at the Tuscaloosa VAMC facility
• Medical care includes identifying the patients' medical problems - diagnosing and treating appropriately - determining the need for consultation from subspecialty care for specialized medical - surgical or psychiatric services and also determining the need for services that may require transferring patients to other VA or Non-VA healthcare facilities - community nursing homes or discharge when appropriate
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm (subject to change based on agency needs)