Physician - Palliative Care

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 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.

Additional Requirement:

• Board Certification in either Internal Medicine or Family Practice.

Preferred Experience:

• Subspecialty certification in Palliative Medicine.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted.

Responsibilities:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Work Schedule: Full-time. Schedule will be determined by supervisor.
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 Extended Care and Palliative Medicine Service (EC&PMS) Palliative Care physician independently provides patient care to residents of the Extended Care and Palliative Medicine inpatient venues, inpatient hospital consultations, and in the outpatient clinical care area. The Palliative Care physician is responsible for being an attending of record for inpatients in the VAPAHCS inpatient hospice unit as well as have outpatient and consultation responsibilities for the hospital and the CLCs at Menlo park and Livermore campuses.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Clinical. The Palliative Care physician may be primarily assigned inpatient attending responsibilities in the inpatient hospice unit, attending responsibilities on the Palliative Medicine consultation service, and/or attending responsibilities in the outpatient clinic. The physician is responsible for providing an admission H&P, assessment, diagnosis & management plan, referrals as deemed necessary, inpatient or outpatient consultations, supervision of palliative care fellows and rotating medical trainees, evaluating referrals for inpatient admission or consultation, leading and participation in family conferences, being an active member of the interdisciplinary team, and participating with outpatient Palliative Medicine clinical care. The incumbent may participate in all activities pertinent to the inpatient hospice unit, consultation service involving the hospital and the CLCs, and outpatient areas of clinical care. The incumbent also participates in and directs activities pertaining to quality improvement, strategic planning, Long Term care Institute (LTCI) and The Joint Commission accreditation process.
• Administrative. The Staff Physician participates in:
  • EC&PMS and Hospital Committees
  • EC&PMS Service Meetings
  • Faculty Meetings
• Education: The Staff Physician may hold a faculty appointment at Stanford University, in the division of GIM. The incumbent will participate in the educational activities of rotating medical fellows in Geriatrics and Palliative Care. In addition, the provider is expected to participate in the educational activities of trainees from multiple disciplines.
• Research: as available and as time allows

Salary : $1,000