Physician (Palliative Care )

North Florida/South Georgia VA Healthcare System's Palliative Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Physician (Palliative Care). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. The Palliative Care Physician will work with the Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team to provide compassionate and comprehensive palliative care in the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Qualifications:

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 in Palliative Care/ Geriatrics 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.

Responsibilities:

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

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 Physician (Palliative Care) will be responsible for providing comprehensive health and preventive care services to patients/residents in the Extended Care areas. The Incumbent will work with the Palliative Care Team to provide Inpatient and Outpatient Palliative Care consultations. The Physician will help with initial Hospice and Palliative consults, provide care, and follow up visits, provide recommendations for effective Palliative Care and symptom management, coordinate care with Primary Team and other consultants, provide education on Palliative and Hospice care to Veterans, families and staff. The Physician will also help arrange Hospice Care both inside and outside the VA as needed. Will provide assistance to track outcomes, monitor and report trends, and perform activities to improve quality and access to Palliative Care. Will act as point of contact for Veterans, families, and staff for issues related to Palliative Care. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Supervising and instructing Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Medical Students, Residents and Geriatric Fellows as needed in an Interdisciplinary Team setting.
• Helping with patient care needs in other areas of Geriatrics and Extended Care as needed.
• Collaborating with Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistant, Ancillary Health Care Providers, and various clinical Specialties.
• Facilitating hospital admissions, post discharge care and specialty consultations as needed
• Required to participate in call schedule for telephonic coverage for urgent needs of Veterans in the Palliative Care and the Community Living Center (CLC) after administrative hours.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).