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 VA 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 VA 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 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: General surgery experience - at least 3-5 years - upper and lower endoscopy - laparoscopic surgical skills
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Periods of long standing
• Occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects
• Long periods of sitting at a computer station
• The need for high degree of accuracy - potentially stressful situations - and the ability to adapt work plans based on patient status.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact 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 General Surgeon providers are able to perform and teach all of the services required in the practice of General Surgery to students - residents and fellows
• Educational experiences are also provided to appropriate health care personnel who seek training in General Surgery services (e.g
• medical students - psychology and social work interns - mental health residents - physician assistant and nursing students - and medical residents)
• Major duties include: Provides direct patient care to patients and clinical guidance to mid-level providers in the General Surgery section
• In addition - the General Surgery provider - participates in interdisciplinary team activities to achieve optimum interdepartmental cooperation to assure the quality patient care is maintained or improved
• The incumbent participates in the progressive improvement of the service delivery - which may include programmatic participation in initiatives within the facility
• Performs other directly related duties as assigned by the supervisor 1
• Staff within the General Surgery area are ultimately responsible for all aspects of medical care and provide or assist residents and/or the mid-level practitioner in the process of evaluation and treatment of the General Surgery patients
• The incumbent evaluates the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status
• A progress note is written in the patient's chart
• Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident - and attending notes as appropriate
• 2
• The General Surgery provider is responsible to coordinate with providers within their own and outside of their own Service Line - and with other VHA facilities or community providers as determined by the plan of care for the veteran
• Open - clear - and collaborative engagements are a key duty
• Incumbent is ultimately responsible to ensure barriers for Veterans and staff are minimized in order to promote a positive work environment
• Fosters positive working relationships with staff - peers and Veterans
• 3
• Staff within General Surgery setting perform consultations within their own and other service lines as indicated
• They are responsible for the provision of clinical care - graduate and undergraduate medical education - and scientific research as appropriate
• 4
• Staff within General Surgery are appropriately credentialed and privileged
• They participate in various hospital committees - departmental and hospital in-service programs - and education programs of the department and the hospital
• They are also involved in continuous quality improvement through peer review process
• Work Schedule: 0730-1600