Physician (Gastroenterologist)

The Gastroenterologist is expected to provide comprehensive patient care to inpatient services, consultative inpatient care, and outpatient specialty care at the Lexington VA Healthcare System. The physician will manage patients with ongoing medical conditions, in collaboration with other services of the Lexington VA Healthcare System. The incumbent is accountable to the Chief of GI and Chief of Medicine Service. This position is 100% clinical.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
  • (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
  • (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
  • Exceptions:
    • 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 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.
    • In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

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

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15-25 lbs); Moderate Carrying (15-25lbs); Straight Pulling (up to 2-3 hours); Pushing (up to 2-3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Walking (up to 1-2 hours); Kneeling(up to 1-2 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1-2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable; Far vision correctable; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Responsibilities:

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• • Current BLS/ACLS required.
  • Provides direct patient care specific to Gastroenterology in the ambulatory clinic setting and inpatient units.
  • Ensure the quality of care of Veterans being treated.
  • Communicates and documents with clarity to patients and medical personnel to coordinate patient care
  • Provide collaboration on the clinical care as appropriate.
  • Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning and conferences and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive care.
  • Provide a range of therapeutic interventions specific to Gastroenterology and have clinical privileges to practice including diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management.
  • Consultative and direct input to inpatient care. Collaborate with midlevel providers and physician colleagues with clear communication and documentation.
  • Ensures that the practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission, CARF, CA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, VISN standards, national statues and regulations, medical record documentation, mandatory continuing education, and HIPPA policies.
  • Participate in quality assurance programs and chart reviews. Responsible for all performance metrics that are affected by inpatient/outpatient medicine, including but not limited to various metrics such as SAIL, ORYX, LOS, UM admission and continued stay, etc.
  • Perform other duties assigned by the Chief of Medicine or designee (i.e., Administrative Officer)

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

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized to Highly Qualified candidate
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Betsy.quinn@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

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) and 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 are ineligible to apply.

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
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Yes - Ad Hoc as determined by the agency policy

Salary : $1,000