Physician (Radiologist)

Diagnostic Imaging Service at the Phoenix VA Healthcare System (PVAHCS) provides Radiology subspecialty services, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services to Veterans across central Arizona. The service is one of the largest clinical departments at PVAHCS with over 130 employees in 9 specialty divisions, including Staff radiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, Breast Imaging, Diagnostic Radiology including fluoroscopic, and Clerical Services.

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: Radiologists will be fully trained and preferably board-certified. Additional fellowship training, particularly in Body/Abdominal, Musculoskeletal or Nuclear Medicine imaging is preferred. He/she must be experienced and highly competent in clinical radiology, with a good understanding of how the various subspecialists function and the kinds of services they provide.

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: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

Responsibilities:

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

Work Schedule: Full-time, Weekdays 8:00am - 4:30pm, Weekends 8:00am - 4:00pm, other shifts will be determined based on departmental needs or as agreed upon with the Chief of Radiology.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible.
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

Duties include but not limited to the following:

Administration - Radiologists may participate in supervision of on-board personnel, evaluation of prospective new hires, oversee compliance with all applicable regulations/accreditation, and address patient complaints. Radiologists will also participate in the random peer-review process of other physicians within the department. Radiologists may be required to respond to issues, inquiries and investigations from Congress, the White House, VA Central Office, and national investigative bodies. Radiologists are encouraged to participate as a member of a variety of Radiology Service and PVAHCS-wide committees, including for systems redesign and quality improvement projects. The incumbent will carry out administrative duties as assigned in a timely, resourceful, and efficient manner. He or she will demonstrate interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills that enable him/her to establish and maintain professional relationships with other professionals, whether they are supervisees, peers, or supervisors and leaders both at PVAHCS and at higher levels.

Patient Care- Radiologists will be expected to provide direct patient care in his/her specialty area 90- 100% of the time. This responsibility will include:

• Evaluating and prioritizing radiology orders
• Ordering and evaluating appropriate laboratory studies
• Ordering hydration for CT exams
• Protocolling and approving complex imaging exams
• Timely and accurate reporting of a variety of complex imaging exams
• Notifying providers of critical imaging results
• Performing interventional procedures (if applicable to area of practice)

All patient data, (radiology reports, requests for laboratory studies, etc.) shall be entered into the patient's chart electronically. Documentation of care will be in accordance with the bylaws, policy, and regulations established by the VA and PVAHCS or the facility in which the care is provided. All VA reports will be completed on each patient examined to include appropriate CPT codes and diagnosis. Care will be compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and treatment of disease.

Teaching- Radiologists may function part-time as a Radiology-Educator for medical and other health care trainees including students, resident physicians and fellows as part of his/her duties as a member of the department. He/she may present formal educational material from time to time in various venues such as Grand Rounds, etc. The incumbent will also demonstrate appropriate professional behavior and correct procedures for maintaining records, evaluating, and monitoring personnel, and other administrative functions.

Research- Radiologists may be expected to mentor junior faculty, fellows, and others on research projects that they wish to develop.

Salary : $275,000 - $400,000