Physician (GEC Attending CLC & HPC)

Full Job Description

The CLC/HPC full-time physician is assigned to provide direct patient care to patients on the Community Living Center (CLC) &/or in the Hospice Palliative Care (HPC) program, as needed.

The incumbent will work under the direction and oversight of the ACOS/Geriatrics and Extended Care.

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: Prior Geriatrics and/or Hospice Palliative Care experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

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

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15-25 lbs); Moderate Carrying (15-25lbs); Straight Pulling (up to 2-3 hours); Pushing (up to 2-3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Walking (up to 1-2 hours); Kneeling(up to 1-2 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1-2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable; Far vision correctable; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Major Duties:

Duties may include but are not limited to: Ensures the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical care provided to patients eligible for Palliative and Hospice care services in consultation with the Palliative Care Consultation Team.

Collaborates with the Palliative Care Consultative Team (PCCT) Providers to ensure all Inpatient Palliative and Hospice care consults/encounters are complete timely within 24 hours (but no later than 48 hrs.

if workload is high); and outpatient encounters are completed within 72 hours (but no later than 5 days if high workload).

Provides a continuum of palliative care services across various settings to include but not limited to: Acute care, Community Living Center (CLC), Outpatient consultative clinics, HBPC, ED, Geri Palliative clinic, as well as the Infusion room.

Participates daily as a member of the CLC Screening Committee providing Palliative care report on HPC patients referred to CLC.

Assists in discharge planning to ensure effective transfer of patients from acute care to CLC, CNH or discharge home with community hospice services, as necessary.

Ensures "hand-off "communication is provided to ED/ Hospitalist/Surgeon/Neurologist/ UK, if a resident is sent out of CLC for an acute care evaluation.

Directly evaluates all residents with any change in condition, acute event or as requested by any IDT member and documents this evaluation timely, same day.

Completes Attending notes for CLC residents with significant change in clinical condition as well as follow up notes (progress notes) as needed after unit rounds.

Provides occasional coverage for other Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) programs during staff shortage.

Participates in Screening calls and completes chart reviews on all referrals to ensure patients referred are medically stable. Communicates with referring physicians if questions arise.

Collaborates with other disciplines such as Nursing, PMR, SW ..etc to ensure all aspect of patient care can be provided on CLC. Reviews labs and imaging promptly and takes action if abnormal.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be approved for highly qualified applicants.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact Betsy.Quinn@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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm