Physician -Chief of Hospice and Palliative Care

Full Job Description

VA NWIHCS is an integrated system that serves more than 56,000 Veterans in 99 counties in Nebraska, western Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

It includes a tertiary medical center in Omaha, two larger clinics in Lincoln and Grand Island, two Community Living Centers, and five community-based outpatient clinics.

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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Major Duties:

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System seeks a full time Chief of Hospice and Palliative Care Physician.

The ideal candidate will be board eligible/certified and will possess strong leadership skills.

This role involves providing high-quality care to patients with serious illnesses, focusing on their comfort and quality of life, and leading a team of healthcare professionals to achieve this mission.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provide hospice and palliative care consultative services for both inpatients and outpatients with established timelines.

Participate in on-call rotation or coverage for holidays/weekends. Facilitate clarification of patient and family goals of care. Facilitate access to appropriate support models of care.

Establish a written plan of care as specified so that pain and symptom management for patients is effectively and expeditiously done.

Provide medical directorship for hospice and palliative care which includes ongoing staff education, program oversight (including program development) and quality oversight.

Participate in all required clinics, meetings and conferences as assigned by the REC Chief.

Provide education to fellows, residents, medical students, nursing staff, mid-level providers and other members of the NWI health care team.

Work closely with leadership to enhance and develop the palliative care service. Provide clinical supervision of mid-level HPC providers.

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Call rotation. Additional information will be provided during interview process.