Physician -Hospice Palliative Care (Part-time)

Full Job Description

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. 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. Additional Requirement: Internal medicine or family medicine training required.

Preferred Experience: At least 1 year experience in Hospice and Palliative Care. Board Certified/Eligible preferred.

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

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required.

The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations.

The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

In accordance with VA Handbook 5019. Major Duties:

The Hospice and Palliative Care Service at the Durham VA Health Care System (DVAHCS) consists of an inpatient Hospice unit, an inpatient Palliative Medicine consult service, an outpatient palliative care consult service, a palliative care clinic, telehealth and an active teaching program, which spans a variety of disciplines.

The incumbent will provide Attending-level oversight for the Hospice unit and occasionally the Community Living Center (general service as well as house staff).

The incumbent will take part in continuing medical education (as defined by licensure), and quality assurance activities.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provide in-patient and outpatient consultation service in palliative care throughout the medical center and in weekly clinic Serving as hospice attending of record for patients receiving hospice care in community hospices.

Provide primary care and Attending oversight for Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC) residents. Carry an agreed-upon panel of outpatients in HPC outpatient clinic.

Carry on-call pager evenings and weekends per coverage schedule. Serve on various quality assurance and medical staff committees as assigned.

Screen consults to HPC concerning Veterans from outside hospitals, community hospice agencies who may need inpatient hospice care and coordinate with interdisciplinary team.

Customer Service: Base planning on patient and staff feedback and projected needs.

Plan the provision of services with a patient centered vision so as to enhance patient education and shared decision making.

Actively identify and encourage the implementation of best practices in customer service. Break barriers that impede good service delivery.

Share resources in order to serve customers effectively and efficiently. Organizational Stewardship: Provides a clear vision of the future and leads the service through necessary changes.

4 Demonstrates commitment and accountability to the "One VA" concept. Models' behavior, attitudes, and action expected of all staff.

Communication: Effectively communicates with service employees, patients and their families, employees from other services, stake holders, the triad, and VISN and VACO staff when required.

Exhibits clear, honest and open communications in meetings and other interactions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: 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..

Contact Byron Collins at Byron.Collins@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: 10 Hours per week/ 20 hours per pay period.

(Part-time hours determined with the ACOS for Geriatrics and subject to change based on the needs of the agency)