Physician - Compensation and Pension

Full Job Description

The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System is recruiting for one Physician to perform duties with the Compensation & Pension Service Line at the American Lake VA Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.

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: Board Certification in Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Neurology or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Functional Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, both hands required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, hearing (aid may be permitted), mental and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

Duties will include but are not limited to: Performs history and physical examinations and evaluates appropriate diagnostic studies, and acts within the guidelines and quality indicators set forth by the Office of Disability and Medical Assessment (DMA), C&P Service, and the Veterans Health Service (VHS).

Responsible for generating C&P exam reports utilizing approved electronic templates (e.g.

Disability Benefits Questionnaires) for the official record of the Veterans'/Service Members' disability examinations.

Engage in internal quality review procedures and other C&P administrative duties as outlined by the Director of C&P Service.

Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate Veterans/Service Members served by VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) C&P Service.

The individual must demonstrate the knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possess the ability to evaluate Veterans/Service Members based upon physical, psychosocial, cultural, safety and other age-related factors as noted in the competencies described in departmental and/or unit specific policies and procedures.

Performs duties within the scope of approved privileges set forth by VAPSHCS. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized 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: Full-time, Monday - Friday (a condensed schedule of Tuesday - Friday may be available upon request).