Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with 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 complete review of the EDRP application.

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 eligible/certification in cardiothoracic surgery required Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• straight pulling (4 hours)
• pushing (4 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (2 hours);standing (7 hours)
• kneeling (1 hour)
• repeated bending (4 hours)
• both legs required
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far-vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• mental and emotional stability required.

Duties

• Harry S
• Truman VA Medical Center is hiring a Cardiothoracic Surgeon to serve the men and women who've worn our nation's uniform
• This full-time role offers autonomy - strong support - and a mission-first culture
• At VA - we put Veterans at the heart of everything we do
• We recognize that it is up to all of us to make sure Veterans can enjoy the health and happiness they deserve
• That's why we're constantly pushing ourselves to develop more advanced treatments - enhance support services - and expand access to our state-of-the-art facilities
• Live and work in Columbia - Missouri - a university town with excellent schools - green space - and a close-knit medical community
• Full time or part time options will be considered
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available to qualified candidate Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• 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 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m
• Subject to change based on agency needs
• CARDIOTHORACIC (CT) SURGEON DUTIES Design and conduct comprehensive examinations - diagnosis - and implementation of treatment plans - admission orders - discharge summaries - ordering special labs - and radiographic studies Provide medical education/counseling to patients & their families Verify - establish - and ensure that identified pre-operative surgical requirements are met - ensure appropriate arrangements have been established for admission - and coordinate inpatient activities on the floor Primarily responsible for admissions and medical care of patients Perform bedside procedures including placement of arterial lines - swan-ganz catheters - and central lines - bronchoscopy - changing of tracheostomy tubes - wound care and debridement - thoracentesis - removal of chest tubes - temporary pacing wires - intra-aortic balloon pump - central lines - arterial lines - and drains Demonstrate ability to diagnose and treat CT surgery patients seen in consultation with other health care providers Promote patient care programs for the CT surgery patients Integrates the activities of the CT surgery service with other patient care programs at the facility Provides education - teaching - and support to surgical residents and fellows Participates in Quality Improvement (QI) projects as deemed necessary by the department - Quality Management (QM) - and/or the Chief of Staff Participates as a key member of the CT surgery Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to ensure optimized outcomes for all CT surgery patients SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE DUTIES Considers factors related to safety - effectiveness - and cost in planning and delivering CT surgical care Performs complex CT surgeries and procedures on a high-acuity patient population
• manages a broad range of CT surgery practice
• This encompasses all areas of general CT surgery Evaluates and treats CT surgery emergencies in the emergency department - inpatient wards - ICU - and operating room Obtains H&P - and assessment of ongoing patient needs Orders and interprets routine laboratory tests - diagnostic studies - and radiographic tests Performs diagnostic and stabilization procedures as necessary based on ACLS Collaborates with respiratory therapy and nursing for airway management and ventilator weaning Demonstrates competence with placement and removal of enteral feeding tubes - central venous catheters - arterial lines - swan-ganz catheters - sutures - drains/tubes Assists with and performs invasive procedures including central lines - arterial lines - etc Collaborates with physicians - nurses - and other members of the health care team using effective communication and interpersonal skills to develop and maintain interdisciplinary teamwork Identifies 'at risk' individuals in need of referrals Maintains accurate - timely medical records Participates in performance measures through documentation and data collection/reporting Assists in investigation and documentation of patient issues and concerns