This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (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 appointment. 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. 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: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 lbs, Light carrying, under 15lbs, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (1 hrs), Standing (4 hrs), both legs required, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to jaeger 1 to 4; Far vison correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid permitted). The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. Atlanta VAMC is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility service medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with visits to the Emergency Department and admission for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position may require potentially extended 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 wear protective clothing in isolation situation. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients 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 situation, able to shift priorities based on patients needs. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN7EDRPFacilityCoordinators2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Recruitment Incentive: Approved 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 The physician is a member of the Primary Care Team and typically works eight hour shifts but will not work more than eighty hours during a two-week period. Eight-hour shifts are from 8 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays. The physician is an independent primary health care provider who examines, diagnoses, treats, and manages diseases and disorders as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. Care is provided to both men and women Veterans. The primary job function is to diagnose patients seeking medical advice and attention either from injury or a debilitating disease. The physician obtains patient's medical records and history, orders tests and accurately diagnoses and provides treatment. The physician is responsible for the outpatient care of a panel of 1300 panels. The position must apply for Medical Staff Membership and request privileges. This position will agree to abide by the medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations, and other policies and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This position will participate in the continuous quality improvement program. Performance shall be subject to quality review and must meet local performance standards. Staff physicians must be familiar with and comply with all national standards utilized at this medical treatment facility, including The Joint Commission and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards. The physician shall document all medical care through the use of the electronic medical record. This includes the use of clinical reminders for documentation of care as well as consults, progress notes, doctor's orders, and any laboratory or pharmacy requests, etc. Orders must be completed and electronically signed as soon as the physician becomes available but no later than the end of their shift. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM (subject to change based on agency's needs)"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.