Summary

Rheumatologists are able to perform all services required in the subspecialty practice of rheumatology in the context of the VA system and their clinical privileges. Educational experiences are also provided to appropriate health care personnel who are involved in inpatient care.

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 eligibility and/or board certification required Preferred Experience: Musculoskeletal ultrasound experience preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy Carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours)
• Pushing (1 - 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 4 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• 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 Duties and Responsibilities of Rheumatologists Responsible for the oversight of all aspects of Rheumatologic care delivered to their assigned patients Provide care to patients and/or assist fellows - residents - medical students - and nurse practitioners in proper evaluation and treatment of patients
• Actively participate in corrective actions when complications occur related to indicated rheumatologic interventions/procedures
• Recognize the need for palliative and/or hospice care consults and be active in addressing advance directives in the appropriate clinical settings Directly assess hospitalized ward and ICU patients for changes in joint and rheumatologic-related conditions
• A history and physical note - with the appropriate level of detail - will be entered into the electronic medical record along with an appropriate assessment and treatment plan for acute and ongoing care as well as when the time comes for discharge/discharge planning - and all should occur within 24 hrs of patient contact
• A progress note is entered in the patient's EMR daily - also within 24 hours of patient contact
• Notes also may include concurrence with notes written by fellows - residents - or students supervised by the appropriate rheumatology attending physician
• Will also assess (in a timely manner) and recommend treatment for medicine ward patients they are consulted to evaluate for various rheumatologic disease states
• The assessment and treatment recommendations should be clearly communicated to the consulting inpatient physician/team in both direct verbal and written (via the electronic medical record) manner - in the appropriate level of detail for the question at hand Will also assess (in a timely manner) and recommend treatment for primary care patients that are referred to them in specialty clinic setting regarding various rheumatologic conditions/disease states
• The assessment and treatment recommendations should be clearly communicated to the consulting physician/practitioner in either e-Consult or CPRS note template format
• Maintain all VA-mandated certifications - including BLS
• ACLS & airway management (as part of conscious sedation protocol - if necessary and requested for privileging) - and complete all required TMS modules and other mandatory VA training requirements per hospital regulations
• They will also code encounters/notes as required by the coding and billing office - and comply with efforts to close all open encounters
• Staff Rheumatologists with research 8ths and/or VA grants will be expected to follow all VA policies and procedures related to research - have all studies opened at the RLR VAMC - and conduct their research on VA property while on VA time
• They are required to strictly adhere to MOU time requirements when they are part-time VA employed physician researchers
• During scheduled tour hours - staff Rheumatologists shall be available for all urgent assessments and interventions as part of the inpatient care team
• Participate in various hospital committees - Medicine Service and hospital in-service programs - and education programs of the medicine service and hospital
• They are also involved in continuous quality improvement through the VA peer review process
• Shall be responsible for graduate and undergraduate medical education and scientific research - as their credentials and privileges allow
• Work Schedule: Part-time/full-time available - Monday-Friday - 8:00am-5:00pm