Public Health Physician - Pediatrician (Continuous - 4/4/24)

Salary : $74,855.00 - $110,908.00 Annually

Location : St. Croix, VI

Job Type : Classified

Job Number : 201904127

Department : |Department of Health- STX|

Opening Date : 03 / 05 / 2024

Closing Date : Continuous

Description

Under the direction of the Medical Director, this is specialized professional work responsible for assessing healthcare and diagnosing children and young adults in the clinics, and providing healthcare services that meet local and national standards for patient care. Prescribes patients with appropriate medication, health regimens, and lifestyle adjustments that will contribute to recovery from diagnosed health issues, prevent future health issues and / or promote a healthier life. Prevents diseases and illness complications in minors. Collaborates with other healthcare professionals and maintains a great level of patient confidentiality at every interaction.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conducts regular thorough examinations on newborns and children to check and record their health and normal physical development.

Examines sick children to determine their condition and asks intuitive questions to gather information about symptoms.

Reaches an informed diagnosis based on scientific knowledge and individual medical history.

Prescribes medications and gives detailed instructions for administration.

Prescribes and interprets appropriate lab tests to gain more information for possible infections or abnormalities.

Prepares and administers vaccines according to the governmental vaccination plan.

Examines and treats injuries and refers the patients to physicians of other disciplines when necessary (e.g., surgeons, ophthalmologists, orthopedists etc.).

Advises parents on children's diet, exercise, and disease preventive measures.

Keeps updated records of patients' illnesses, surgeries, or other medical episodes (allergic shocks, injuries etc.)

Keeps abreast of advancements in pediatrics and best practices by attending seminars and conferences.

Works with the clinical team to provide patients with pediatric care services within the standard of care.

Discusses potential side effects of medication / treatment with patients and ensure that all allergy information is up to date before prescribing medication / treatment. Adheres to departmental policies, procedures and objectives, ongoing quality improvement objectives and safety, environmental, and infection control standards. Maintains patient confidentiality and complies with all federal and state health information privacy laws.

Assists with the continuous improvement of services, programs, activities, materials, policies, and procedures.

Upholds quality standards of patient care; understands that best approach when interacting with pediatric patients during delivery of pediatric care services.

Understands all licensure requirements as it relates to profession.al practice, quality of care and compliance.

Stays current and maintains licensure while employed as a Public Health Physician.

Upholds the Medical code of ethical practice.

Exercises patience and care to foster long-term relationships with the children and their parents.

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctor in Medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school with a sub-specialty in Pediatrics.

Position Factors

FACTOR 1- KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

Knowledge of patient treatment plans.

Knowledge of ethical medical standards.

Knowledge of Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Pediatric Advanced Pulmonary Resuscitation (PALS).

Knowledge of medication, management, and administration.

Knowledge of patient's advocacy and rights.

Knowledge of recording patient health information into the electronic health record.

Knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Knowledge of standards regulatory standards in relations to pediatrics.

Knowledge of Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services.

Knowledge of well-established examination procedures of infants.

Knowledge of children's epidemiology and infectious diseases (in depth).

Knowledge of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation principles and techniques.

Knowledge of drugs / medication appropriate for children and their side-effects.

Knowledge of traditional and web-based prescription systems.

Skill in computer operating applications.

Skill in diagnosing health conditions.

Skill in analytical and critical thinking.

Skill in active listening. Skill in decision-making.

Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and trust with patients and records.

Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate individual patient care programs.

Ability to perform patient assessment and triage.

Ability to be compassionate and mindful of patient healthcare guidelines.

Ability to develop and present educational programs and / or workshops.

Ability to make administrative / procedural decisions and judgments.

Ability to maintain quality, safety, and / or infection control standards.

FACTOR 2- SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

Work is performed under the direction of the Chief Medical Director. The Pediatrician is expected to work independently yet work collaboratively with other members of the clinical team to plan and recommend treatment plans for positive patient outcomes. The work is reviewed to determine that objectives are met, and for compliance with federal and local agencies policies and regulations.

FACTOR 3- GUIDELINES

Guidelines include Department Policies and Procedures, Federal and local laws, and regulations HIPAA, CPR, ACLS, and regulatory standards for primary health and preventive care. Guidelines are strictly enforced and there is little or no room for interpretation or adaptation under various circumstances.

FACTOR 4- COMPLEXITY

Work involves assuring patients that proposed care and treatment are the best option for them. Work can be both difficult and demanding, especially as it requires providing care for children. A Pediatrician must conduct examinations when earning the trust and cooperation of the child.

FACTOR 5- SCOPE AND EFFECT

The purpose of work is to uphold the department's mission, its goals and objectives, with a focus on delivering quality pediatric care interactions and service to the population served. The scope is limited to children and young adults.

FACTOR 6- PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts are patients (infants, children, adolescents), clinical care services team members, co-workers, external health professionals, other agency team members, executive staff, external agencies (i.e., federal, and private), affiliate groups and agencies specifically focused on focused on pediatric care.

FACTOR 7- PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Contacts are made to advise, provide, and obtain meaningful information, diagnose, and treat conditions, or tap into resources necessary to ensure that quality reproductive and family planning care services are rendered.

FACTOR 8- PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work requires light physical effort including lifting, standing, walking back and forth between service areas, climbing, balancing, stooping, and kneeling.

FACTOR 9- WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a clinic setting where special safety regulations or precautions are necessary and upheld.

The Government of the Virgin Islands aspires to provide the highest level of comprehensive benefits, services and programs to eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents which :

• Meet and anticipate their individual needs;
• Assure the GVI's competitiveness with other employers to attract and retain employees;
• Maximize cost effectiveness; and,
• Assure optimal health and productivity of employees.

To achieve this goal, from time to time, the carrier for the GVI's insurance may change. Please contact the Group Health Insurance Office of the Division of Personnel in St. Thomas and St. Croix at for more information regarding carriers.

Medical and Dental Coverage

Enrollment

The Virgin Islands government offers to full-time employees and their eligible dependents, a group health and dental insurance plan.

Full-time employees must enroll within thirty-one (31) days of hire unless they can provide proof of medical coverage from another source. An employee who does not enroll within 31 days of employment will be automatically enrolled in the health insurance plan with single coverage.

If an employee fails to enroll dependents within the initial eligibility period he / she must wait until a period of "open enrollment" is announced or have a qualifying event as determined by the health insurance carrier to enroll dependents or make changes to their coverage.

Effective Date of Coverage

If enrollment forms are received on or before the 6th of the month, coverage will be effective on the first day of the first month following the receipt of enrollment forms. If enrollment forms received on the 7th of the month or later, coverage will be effective on the first day of the second month following the receipt of the enrollment forms.

Example :

Date Forms Received May 1st May 8th January 6th February 7th

Coverage Effective Date June 1st July 1st February 1st April 1st

Dependent Coverage

Dependents of eligible employees may participate in the Group Health and Dental Insurance Program according to the terms and conditions imposed by the Health Insurance Board of Trustees and / or the carrier. Eligible dependents are the employee's :

When a new dependent is acquired, you must enroll them within thirty-one (31) days after acquiring such dependent. When enrolling a dependent at any time, the following may be required :

Various other documents may be required to determine the eligibility of the dependents.

Cost of Coverage

The GVI contributes toward the cost of Health Insurance for each employee enrolled under the Group Health Insurance Program. The GVI reserves the right to change the amount of the employee contribution when necessary for financial or other reasons.

Waiver or Discontinuation of Benefits

An employee may opt to decline coverage, or discontinue coverage under the Group Health and Dental Insurance Plan at any time. An employee who waives coverage upon employment, or who drops out of the program must provide proof of medical coverage and will be subject to the eligibility requirements imposed by the carrier in order to re-enroll in the program. This provision also applies to dependents that are dropped from the plan.

Coverage discontinues on the last day of the month following a qualifying event or on the date of an employee's separation.

After separation, an employee or dependent may be eligible to convert their group policy to an individual policy within 30 days, depending on the insurance carrier. If an employee would like to convert their policy to an individual policy a notice of conversion must be sent to the insurance carrier. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation (COBRA) coverage is not available in the Virgin Islands after loss of coverage.

Dental Insurance

As a condition of participation, all employees must enroll in medical coverage to qualify for Dental Insurance.

Leave without Pay

The GVI will maintain group health insurance plan coverage for employees on leave without pay. This coverage will remain at the level and under the conditions for which coverage would have been provided if the employee had continued employment continuously for the duration of the leave. However, employees on leave must arrange to pay into the Group Health Insurance Fund the employee's share of their health insurance premium to maintain coverage.

Retirement Benefits

Retired employees and their dependents are eligible to continue to participate in the Group Health and Dental Insurance Program. Retirees must provide updated contact information to the Group Health Insurance Division to maintain coverage.

Life Insurance

The government provides a complementary basic non-contributory $10,000 basic life insurance benefit. In order for the benefit to be effective, an enrollment form must be forwarded to the Group Insurance Office at the Division. The enrollment form must be signed, dated and must indicate a designated beneficiary.

Employees may also select additional life insurance in either 1x, 2x, 3x or 4x base salary or $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, $100,000 or $150,000 amounts as supplemental contributory coverage. The employee pays the cost of this additional insurance, and may be required to submit evidence of insurability when increasing coverage after initial enrollment. Insurance enrollment forms and booklets explaining in detail the plan of benefits, as well as claim forms and a schedule of costs may be obtained from the Group Health Insurance Office.

Upon retirement life insurance benefits may be reduced.

Upon death the designated beneficiary will be eligible to receive the life insurance proceeds of the insurance participant, the Division must be notified of the death in order to initiate the claim process. Life insurance benefits are payable by the contracted insurance company and a subject to the limitations established by the insurance company.

Supplemental Insurance

The GVI has several supplemental insurance plans that provide for coverage over and above the regular medical, dental and life insurance coverage.

These plans are voluntary and are not contributed to by the GVI. A list of the current supplemental insurance plans is available through the Group Health Insurance Office. An employee who does not wish to enroll in medical coverage is eligible to enroll in supplemental insurance.

Moving and Relocation Allowance

It is the policy of the GVI to provide a reasonable relocation allowance inclusive of airfare, to eligible employees, based on their employment contract, to help defray the costs associated with relocation from outside the Virgin Islands to accept employment with the GVI. This allowance is made in lieu of any and all claims for reimbursement of relocation and moving expenses.

This policy applies to new employees recruited from off-island and who are approved by the Department Head to receive the benefit of a relocation allowance for moving and relocation expenses.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The GVI will provide confidential and voluntary assistance through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all employees and their family members who may be faced with dynamic challenges of financial concerns, legal issues, alcohol or drug problems, marital problems, illness of a family member, emotional worries, child care problems, etc. For the welfare of employees as well as effective business operations, the GVI encourages its employees to take advantage of this valuable benefit of employment with GVI.

Application

Employees and their family members can refer themselves to the EAP. The program may be reached 24 hours a day on weekdays and weekends.

EAP counselors are available to meet with employees or family members to assess a problem and develop a plan for resolution. The counselors may suggest a referral to an outside resource, such as a therapist, Departmental resource, physician, treatment facility or other professional that would be appropriate to assist in resolving the problem or situation. Where an employee may be in need of information, a referral or suggestion may be made over the telephone. There is no charge for employees or their families to use the services of the EAP.

Participation in the EAP Program does not jeopardize job security or promotional opportunities. However, it does not excuse the employee from following GVI policies and procedures or meeting required standards for satisfactory job performance except where specific accommodations are required by law.

Time Away from Work

Employees who want to visit the EAP during regular work hours must use sick, vacation or personal time after their first meeting. If illness is involved, compensatory, sick, and / or annual leave may be used for treatment or rehabilitation on the same basis that it is granted for other health problems.

Mandatory EAP meetings will be completed using administrative leave.

The EAP counselors will make every effort to coordinate referral for ongoing treatment with the employee's health insurance coverage as well as his / her ability to pay.

Mandatory EAP

When an employee's job performance or attendance is unsatisfactory or there appears to be signs of other problems during the work day, the supervisor should counsel the employee in consultation with the human resources officer or designee. If the employee appears to be unable or unwilling to correct the situation, the employee may be referred to the EAP to assist in the resolution of the problem. Depending on the situation, the employee may accept or refuse participation in the EAP. However, there may be situations where continued employment with the GVI may be contingent upon the employee calling the EAP for assistance.

REMINDER : All contact between an employee and the EAP is held strictly confidential. In cases where an employee's continued employment is contingent upon calling the EAP, the EAP counselor will only verify whether or not the employee has contacted the EAP, if ongoing treatment is necessary, and that the employee is following through on the treatment.

Government Employees Retirement System (GERS)

Eligibility

All full-time employees on regular appointments are eligible to participate in the Government Employees Retirement System.

Enrollment

The appropriate enrollment application forms should be completed at the time of orientation and will remain on file in the Departmental Human Resources Office. Contribution will begin on the next available payroll period following enrollment in the retirement program.

Contribution Rates

Contribution rates to GERS are established and amended according to the Virgin Islands Code.

Vesting

Members become vested in the retirement system after ten (10) years of credited service.

Plan Type

The Virgin Islands Government Employees Retirement System is a defined benefit retirement program to which both the GVI and the employee contribute. The benefit at time of retirement is based upon the employee's age, years of service and salary history.

Retirement Age

Employees with forty (40) years of service may retire at any age at full annuity. A member who is fifty (50) years old with ten (10) years credited service may retire at a reduced annuity. Members who have thirty (30) years of service may retire at any age.

Final Average Salary

The Final Average Salary is the average of highest annual salary up to a maximum of $65,000 during any consecutive five (5) year period in the last ten (10) years. Total maximum benefit may not exceed 100% of maximum salary which may not exceed $65,000.

Retirement Benefits

Vested participants should contact GERS for detailed retirement benefit information at least one year but no later than six months prior to the retirement date.

Military Service Credit

Qualified members may receive military service credit toward retirement. Vested participants should contact GERS for details.

Please Note :

The answers you provide to the supplemental questions will be used to determine eligibility for this position. Please note that in order to qualify for a position, you must satisfy the criteria outlined in the minimum qualifications section of the vacancy announcement and submit supporting documentation.

Required documents (may vary based on minimum requirements) :

High School Diploma, High School Transcript, College Degree, College Transcripts, Evaluation of International Credentials (Only education from an accredited school will be accepted), DD214, Certifications, Specialized Licenses, Proof of Citizenship (Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, or Naturalization Certificate), Valid ID, or Resume.

Attaching a resume does not supersede any of these requirements. Your responses pertaining to specific work experience must be clearly shown in the area for work history on your application. An incomplete application, missing documents, or false responses to questions may disqualify you from further consideration for employment.

Do you Accept?

Do you have a Doctor in Medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school with a sub-specialty in Pediatrics?

Required Question

Salary : $74,855 - $110,908