Physician - Spinal Cord Injury

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: Board Certified / Board Eligible Preferred Experience: Residency completed in PM&R, Internal Medicine, or Family Practice, and SCI Fellowship Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Handbook and Directive 5019 Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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 JOB DUTIES: The Staff Physician for the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder (SCI&D) Unit is directly accountable to the Associate Chief of Staff of SCI&D.

The SCI Physician is an active participant and leader in the Interdisciplinary Team and is directly involved in the coordination of care for patients from several other services to ensure patients are receiving the best and most appropriate care.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Provide initial SCI Rehabilitation, inpatient medical care and outpatient primary and specialty care to Veteran patients in a multidisciplinary environment within the SCI Service Admit, evaluate, diagnose and treat Veterans appropriate to the specialty of SCI medicine Perform specialty procedures as delineated in their clinical privileges Complete documentation and clinic reminders in a timely manner Develop, implement and document the inpatients and outpatient rehab treatment plan for patients Assume complete and professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions and documentation Provide education to patients, families and caregivers Seek to develop and implement best practices with the SCI Service Collaborate with other staff physicians to work with and teach residents, fellows, medical students and allied health professional studies as required Assist the SCI Services in achieving a level of excellence related to inpatient, outpatient, TeleHealth, primary care, home based primary care, home visits, inpatients and outpatient consultations and long-term care Advocate for full access to care for patients with SCI Collaborate with Chief, medical staff and rehabilitation specialist to ensure that all patients are provided timely and courteous care Attend regularly scheduled programmatic staff meetings as may be required or directed by the Chief of the Service Support VA and all SCI Service policies and procedures Involvement in academic activity including research and quality improvement with evidence of annual productivity Participation in the after-hours and weekend call coverage of the VA SCI Service, shared with the PM&R service, in the levels determined by the Chief of SCI Administrative tasks and committee participation as instructed by the Chief of SCI Work Schedule: Full time, day shift Monday-Friday (as per the needs of the service)