Podiatrist - Palliative Care and Hospice Chief

Full Job Description

The Podiatrist-Palliative Care and Hospice Chief will provide supervisory-level oversight for the Palliative Care & Hospice Consult Service and the Long-Term Care beds on the Community Living Center (CLC).

The incumbent will also be responsible for overseeing/managing inpatient Acute Care hospice/palliative services, an outpatient clinic, and inpatient CLC program.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Podiatrist Basic Requirements Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted.

~AND~ Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification.

VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.

Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training.

~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience: Three to seven years of Palliative/Hospice Care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Straight pulling (6 hours), Pulling hand over hand (6 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (6 hours), Standing (2 hours), Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted), Visual Acuity 20/30 corrected.

Environmental Factors: Working with hands in water, Working closely with others. Major Duties:

Duties include but not limited to: Provides medical oversight for the Hospice and Palliative Care clinical programs, including Community Living Center (CLC,) inpatient units and outpatient consultation services.

Oversees the HPC program's daily operations, including supervising physicians, nurse practitioners, and other staff.

Responsible for budgeting, hiring, performance evaluations, and ensuring compliance with VA directives and national standards (such as Joint Commission and long-Term Care.

Provides direct patient care and consultation for Veterans with emphasis on life limiting illnesses, focusing on symptom management, pain relief, and goal-of-care discussions.

Supervises multi-disciplinary teams that include nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and chaplains to provide comprehensive physical, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and families.

Establishes policies, procedures, and performance improvement projects (e.g., CLC Compare Data analysis) to ensure high-quality care.

Coordinates with community hospice providers to ensure seamless transitions for Veterans moving from VA facilities to home.

Responds to inpatient palliative care consultants requiring physician-level input within 72 hours with a goal of one day response.

Assists case managers by evaluating requests made for inpatient palliative care and hospice admissions.

Fills prescriptions for opioids, palliative care medications and durable medical equipment as needed. Provides primary care and Attending oversight for Long Term Care residents on the CLC.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized