Physician - Lead Rheumatologist

Summary

The incumbent physician is expected to provide comprehensive patient care in the form of consultative Rheumatology patient care in the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC) Medicine Section. The physician will manage patients with ongoing rheumatology conditions - in collaboration with other sections within FxHCC. The incumbent is accountable to the FxHCC Medicine Section Chief assuring the most effective delivery of care in services within the FxHCC Rheumatology Section.

Qualifications

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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard
• 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.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM The functions or scope of assigned duties include - but are not limited to the following: The physician is a board-certified physician with advanced clinical experience as well as demonstrated administrative and leadership skills
• Will perform hands on clinical work - oversight - and administration of all aspects of the FxHCC Rheumatology Section - and may include guidance and training for medical residents - students and/or other trainees
• Current BLS required/ACLS desirable
• Interviews - examines - selects diagnostic testing appropriately - and interprets/collates results (including lab and radiology results) to coordinate patient care
• Communicates and documents with clarity to patients and medical personnel to coordinate patient care
• Midlevel - medical student - resident - and fellow supervision within the Rheumatology section if applicable
• Procedural skills may include interpret EKGs - perform arthrocentesis as well as arthrocentesis with therapeutic injection - basic understanding of indications for and use of musculoskeletal ultrasound
• Consultative input to patient care
• Collaborate with midlevel providers and physician colleagues with clear communication and documentation
• Performs the administrative components of patient care management - such as: Participate in the educational programs for the section personnel as well as the medical staff
• Participate in the educational programs for VA-funded graduate medical education trainees
• Participate in monitoring the quality - safety - and appropriateness of patient care - both at the Section and facility level
• Miscellaneous activities of the Medical Service inclusive - but not limited to special projects that help fulfill and/or enhance the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs as assigned by the FxHCC Medicine Section Chief and/or FxHCC Director of Clinical Services (DCS)
• Demonstrate ethical conduct and serve as a positive role model to others at all levels of the organization
• Participate in quality assurance programs and chart reviews
• Attend FxHCC Medicine Section monthly staff meetings and quarterly meetings as per bylaws
• Complete medical records in accordance with Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff Participate in Medical Staff committee assignments
• Perform all other duties assigned by the FxHCC Medicine Section Chief or FxHCC DCS
• Participate in - and attend - CME activities and VA continuing educational activities
• Participate in scholarship activities if and once clinical - administrative - and educational responsibilities are fulfilled
• The FxHCC Rheumatology Section Lead is responsible to the FxHCC Medicine Section Chief and supervisor of the rheumatology physicians
• Although the supervisor provides defined objectives and priorities to the employee - the incumbent must function independently with minimal direct supervision
• The employee uses established policies and procedures to handle problems encountered during the normal working day
• The supervisor evaluates completed work for technical soundness and appropriateness of judgements as well as overall efficiency of service rendered by the technician
• May be assigned administrative and clinical supervision of midlevels within FxHCC Rheumatology Section
• The incumbent is accountable to the FxHCC Medicine Section Chief as well as the FxHCC DCS.