Physician (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

Full Job Description

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) staff physician independently provides clinical physiatric services to eligible veterans. Services are provided at the George E Wahlen Dept.

of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in ambulatory care, outpatient and inpatient Medical Center programs.

The incumbent is required to interact not only with the veteran but also family, significant others, community agencies, and other staff.

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 Certified or Board Eligible (Physiatry).

Management of axial pain and musculoskeletal issues preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.); light carrying (under 15 lbs.); use of fingers, walking 4-8 hours; standing 4-8 hours; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; hearing (aid permitted); working closely with others; working alone; emotional and mental stability required.

Major Duties:

The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Physician provides comprehensive rehabilitative and musculoskeletal care to Veterans in outpatient and inpatient settings.

The incumbent evaluates, diagnoses, and manages patients with acute and chronic disabling conditions affecting function and quality of life.

The physician delivers care consistent with VHA policies, national clinical practice guidelines, and the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management (SCM-PM) where applicable.

Care is delivered in coordination with an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and may include inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient clinics, procedural services, consultative services, and telehealth.

PM&R staff physiatrists shall assist the Chief of the PM&R Service in carrying out the mission of the Service.

The staff physiatrists will be responsible primarily for the following: Inpatient care on inpatient rehabilitation unit bed services Prescribing treatment for in- and outpatients referred by consultations; and Providing special tests such as EMG (electromyography) and other electrodiagnostic procedures.

The physiatrists work closely with the patients, their families and all rehabilitation team members which include: Rehabilitation nurses, PM&R therapists, Psychologists, Social workers, Speech pathologists, Audiologists and Clinical and non-clinical from other services.

If a residency program is in effect, the physiatrists are responsible for the teaching of the residents and the patient care provided by the residents.

The physiatrists participate in administration, committees, and the general teaching functions as delegated by the Chief, PM&R.

The staff physiatrist must be willing to serve as the "physician designee" of the Chief PM&R.

Provides comprehensive physiatric care to Veterans through clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning in outpatient PM&R clinics, inpatient rehabilitation units (if applicable), and consultative settings.

Manages musculoskeletal disorders, neurologic rehabilitation, spinal cord dysfunction, amputee rehabilitation, spasticity, and chronic pain conditions.

Performs procedures within approved clinical privileges, including electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCS), musculoskeletal and spine injections, ultrasound-guided procedures, chemo-denervation, and other interventional procedures as credentialed.

Performs medication management including opioids in accordance with VHA Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) and opioid stewardship requirements.

Implements non-pharmacologic pain management strategies and coordinates interdisciplinary rehabilitation care.

Participates in telehealth services, supervises trainees, and engages in quality improvement and program development activities.

Ensures documentation is completed accurately and timely in CPRS/EHR and that workload capture meets VHA requirements.

Ensures ongoing provision of care that complies with the Organization Code of Ethics for VA. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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: Monday through Friday, schedule is negotiable.

Call required (1:7), to include some weekends with resident support.