Summary

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.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board-certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine or Family Medicine
• Must also be board-certified or board-eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine
• Only exception would be 10 years or more field experience in bedside hospice and palliative medicine with positive clinical peer references
• Must meet all regulatory requirements for Physician per VA Handbook 5005
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Respond to inpatient palliative care consultants requiring physician-level input within 72 hours with a goal of one day response
• Respond to outpatient palliative care consultants and clinic visits requiring physician-level input including telehealth consultations/visits as scheduled and assigned
• Initiate outpatient consultations for Hospice care as needed
• Assist case managers by evaluating requests made for inpatient palliative care and hospice admissions
• Assist with goals of care conversations by initiating and chairing Veteran/family meetings - recording the outcome and communicating goals to all involved
• Manage ongoing end-of-life pain and other symptoms with evaluation and adjustments as needed
• Fill prescriptions for opioids - palliative care medications and durable medical equipment as needed
• Be available to urgent care as needed during business hours to assist with case-finding - symptom management - and goal setting
• Have direct interactions with Veterans and families in various venues to include Veteran primary and specialty care appointments and the Veteran's home as necessary
• Attend interdisciplinary palliative care team meetings and chair teaching rounds
• Perform rounds (or designee) on CLC patients weekly and chart as needed with progress notes
• Contribute to the VISN 20 Palliative Care and Hospice Steering Committee - participate in conference calls as needed and work to strengthen palliative care activities in VISN 20 and at VA Puget Sound HCS
• Serve as VA point of contact for Veterans who are hospice patients until such time as a PCP is identified per the usual mechanisms
• Provide primary care and Attending oversight for Long Term Care residents on the CLC Actively participate in Palliative Care & Hospice and Geriatric Medicine teaching services to include months as Attending Physician as well as ongoing educational offerings - and as needed provide administrative duties pertaining to the training program
• Be an active member of the interdisciplinary team for assigned CLC residents
• Provide on call telephone coverage of the CLC evenings and weekends per coverage schedule
• Serve on screening committee for new admissions to the CLC
• Serve on various quality assurance and medical staff committees as assigned
• Participate as required in the Ethics and the Life Sustaining Treatment Initiative efforts
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date
• Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases
• Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay) 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 - 8:00am - 4:30pm