The West Texas VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for Ambulatory Care Physicians located with the West Texas VA Health Care System in Big Spring, Abilene, and Odessa, Texas locations. These vacancies may also be filled by Nurse Practitioner(s); see CAZM-12303829-24-HL .Candidates are encouraged to apply to the vacancy announcement that matches their specific occupation/discipline and specific qualification standards that are used to determine 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. Education: 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. Licensure and Registration: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR 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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board Eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Completion of three-year residency program 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight Pulling (2hrs); Pushing (4hrs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (2hrs); Standing (2hrs); Kneeling (2hrs); Repeated bending (2hrs); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes required; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Hearing (aid permitted). Mental/emotional stability. ["The Ambulatory Care Physician(s) is responsible for the initial evaluation, stabilization and triage of all patients who present to primary care as well as obtaining consultation when needed and ensuring appropriate referrals for follow-up visits are completed and the maintenance of the patients computerized medical records. Services may be provided face to face or through tele-health. The Physician must possess commitment to patient care and take an active role in the delivery of medical care in a Primary Care setting. The candidate must also possess excellent clinical knowledge. This position will involve interaction with other services and hospitals and fosters a high level of patient and staff satisfaction. The incumbent will also provide women's health care needs. DUTIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Provides for Ambulatory Care Service must be available 8 hours a day, Monday thru Friday. Shift work may be required as appropriate for coverage. In an emergency, as a member of the medical staff, you are authorized to treat any disease and perform any procedure within the scope of medical licensure. An emergency for these purposes is defined as any situation in which any delay in your administering treatment would result in serious harm to the patient or would constitute an immediate threat to the life of the patient. BLS/CPR is required; ACLS and Out of Operating Room Airway Management (OORAM) as appropriate. Physician must be qualified and training in the following areas: Ambulatory and Outpatient Care Mental Health Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) TeleHealth/TeleMedicine Compensation & Pension (C&P) Consult response in any setting Notifies supervising physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation. Instructs and counsels patients regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimen, emotional problems associated with cardiac disease and health maintenance. Documents and maintains patient record of services provided per program standards. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in mandatory educational reviews, educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops. Performs clinical research related to specific operations as appropriate. Participates in utilization review for quality of service. Coordinates patient treatment plan with other caregivers such as the physician, community health nurse, physical therapist, social worker, and nutritionist. Clinic note completed, documented, and encounter closed in CPRS same day of visit with the patient. View alerts to be addressed within 24 hours of receipt and no more than 75 view alerts permitted to be carried over to the following day. Participation in the facility's PEER review process, including the external review. Provides telemedicine service via Clinical Video teleconferencing, as needed, to other WTVAHCS primary care setting for cross coverage. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) 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 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.