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 educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who meet 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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• however - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut-off dates are on the 1st of each month
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• This position is located on the Georgia/South Carolina border - the city of Augusta - GA lies on the Savannah River - which supports its diverse economic endeavors as well as vast recreation options
• The city is the center point of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) - a 13-county region that includes both Georgia and South Carolina
• It is located within close proximity to many major southern destinations including Atlanta - Columbia - and Charlotte
• Our hospital provides primary care and specialty health services - including mental health services - physical therapy and rehabilitation - spinal cord injury treatment - and more
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available to highly qualified candidates
• EDRP: Authorized - contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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
• The nephrologist section chief duties involve administrative and patient care both outpatient and inpatient services
• In addition to leading and/or supporting a range of facility performance measures to optimize employee engagement - patient experience - and patient outcomes
• Serves as the section chief of nephrology for the Augusta VA Medical Center - providing leadership and guidance to assigned clinical and administrative staff - complying with medical center policies and the medical staff bylaws
• The section chief is under direct supervision of the Associate Chief of Staff of Medicine
• The duties to include but not limited to: Serves as the section chief of nephrology for the Augusta VA Medical Center - providing leadership and guidance to assigned clinical and administrative staff - complying with medical center policies and the medical staff bylaws
• Provides oversight into the daily operations of the nephrology section - including inpatient consultations - outpatient clinical areas - and inpatient hemodialysis unit
• Optimizes nephrologists' grids - labor mapping - book ability - productivity - and other operational needs in line with facility mission
• Provides oversight to nephrologists ensuring consults - encounters - TMS trainings - and other administrative tasks are completed timely
• Offers oversight to ensure mandatory training - credentialing - chart reviews and mandates are completed timely by nephrologists
• Runs the dialysis sub-committee
• Ensures nephrologists complete all medical records in accordance with bylaws - rules and regulations of the medical staff
• Oversee medical students and residents in accordance with our academic mission when applicable
• Completes tasks and duties as assigned by direct supervisor and/or supervisory alignment Participates in quality assurance programs and chart reviews
• Attend medical staff meetings and serves on medical staff committees - as assigned
• Some travel maybe required per discretion of supervisor Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
• on call and weekend coverage on a rotating schedule.