Physician - Pain Management

Summary

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 certified or board eligible in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation OR
• Board certified or board eligible in Pain Medicine
• Preferred Experience: Interventional and non-interventional pain experience
• Experience in an interdisciplinary pain team setting
• 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.
  
  

Duties

• 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 to 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 Major duties include but are not limited to: Function/Scope: The physician is organizationally and administratively responsible for the managing of patients suffering from acute or chronic pain - or pain in patients requiring palliative care - postoperative pain or conditions in which pain is a primary problem such as neuropathic pains or headaches
• Examinations and evaluation may be conducted for the purpose of: Initial and subsequent follow up of pain management patients
• Performance of history and physical examination Behavioral modification and feedback techniques Chemical neuromuscular denervation (e.g. - Botox injection) Diagnosis and treatment of chronic and cancer related pain Discography and intradiscal/percutaneous disc treatments Epidural and intrathecal medication management Epidural - subarachnoid - or peripheral neurolysis Fluoroscopically guided facet blocks Implantation of subcutaneous epidural and intrathecal catheters Infusion port and pump implantation Injection of joint and bursa - including sacroiliac - hip - knee - and shoulder joint injections Management of chronic headache Modality therapy and physical therapy Neurulation with cryo - chemical and radiofrequency modalities Nucleoplasty Percutaneous and subcutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrodes Peripheral - cranial - costal - plexus - and ganglion nerve blocks Prevention - recognition - and management of local anesthetic overdose - including airway management and resuscitation
• Recognition and management of therapies - side effects - and complications of pharmacologic agents used in the management of pain Rehabilitative and restorative therapy Stress management and relation techniques Spinal injections - including epidural injections: interlaminar - transforaminal - nerve root sheath injections - m and zygapophysial joint injections Superficial electrical stimulation techniques (e.g. - transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation) Trigger point injection Other Responsibilities: Interpersonal relationships: works effectively with patients - families - co-workers and other health care professionals
• Acts as collaborative physician with PA's and NPs as requested by authorized staff
• Physicians comply with information security policy and procedures and all documentation on coding
• Documents medical advice to patients by telephone as appropriate and in accordance with the VASNHCS protocol
• Performs necessary administrative duties which include operation of VISTA and the computerized electronic patient record (CPRS) and meets established timelines for completion of documentation and encounter completion
• Acts as a liaison with other medical center programs and personnel as they relate to pain management: Physiatrists Pharmacists Registered Nurses Licensed Practical Nurses Advanced Medical Support Assistants