Summary

The Spinal Cord Injuries Outpatient Clinic Program at West Haven VA is recruiting a physician who has experience with caring for patients with spinal cord injury or disorders - or with other chronic disabilities.

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: 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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Must be Board Eligible (or Certified) in their Specialty
• Must have successfully completed an ACGME or AOA post-graduate residency in one of the following: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Internal Medicine - Family Practice - or Neuroogy
• Preferred Experience: A fellowship in Geriatrics or spinal cord disorders would be beneficial but is not required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Light carrying - under 15 pounds
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (6 hours)
• Standing (6 hours)
• Kneeling
• Repeated bending (24 hours)
• Both eyes required
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Mental/Emotional stability
• Ability to perform privileges
• Ability to perform privileges
• Independently performs
• Cognitive stability
• Physical exam as appropriate to position.

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 The candidate must have completed a residency in Internal Medicine - Family Medicine - or Neurology - and have some experience treating spinal cord patients - including those with traumatic spinal cord injuries - as well as disorders that affect the spinal cord such as multiple sclerosis - ALS - and myelopathies
• A fellowship in Geriatrics or spinal cord disorders would be beneficial but is not required
• The Program provides comprehensive outpatient services to over 100 Spinal cord Disorders patients
• The responsibilities of the Spinal Cord Physician include: Providing SCI outpatient - specialty care to Veteran patients as well as primary care when needed
• Participating in a multidisciplinary team including nursing - social work - physical and occupational therapy Developing - implementing and documenting the outpatient treatment plan for patients Providing chronic wound care expertise for patients when necessary Assuming complete and professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions and documentation Providing education to patients - families and caregivers Seeking to develop and implement best practices with the SCI Service Complying with all established customer service protocols and demonstrating professionalism in terms of good judgment - ethical behavior - and professional demeanor always - in contact with patients - peers and other employees
• Engaging in quality improvement project targeting the SCI population Working closely with the West Roxbury VA comprehensive SCI center - which may include visits for training/education
• Oversee the full time APRN assigned to the service Investigating issues that arise within the outpatient services and formulate action plans to resolve these issues
• Complying with all established customer service protocols and demonstrating professionalism in terms of good judgment - ethical behavior - and professional demeanor always - in contact with patients - peers and other employees
• Being attentive to the unique requirements of the age of the patient - and the development capabilities of the individual - patients in all considerations of the type of care provided
• The SCI physician needs to be or Board Eligible in their specialty
• Certification in the sub-specialty of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine is desirable but not required
• The candidate must prove successful completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association approved post-graduate residency in one of the following: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Internal Medicine - Family Practice - or Neurology
• Physicians must meet the qualification requirements stated in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G2 - Physician Qualification Standards - pp II-G2-1 through 4
• The SCI physician will report to the Medical Chief of the Geriatric and Extended Care Service
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - schedule to be determined by Supervisor.