Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Physician Chief Neurology in Augusta, Georgia
Summary The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is actively recruiting for a Neurologist to work in the Neurology Department under the Specialty Care Service Line. Starting salary updated to reflect $250,000* Responsibilities The Augusta Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is a two-division Medical Center that provides tertiary care in the medicine, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine, and spinal cord injury. The Medical Center is affiliated with Augusta University, Augusta Ga and as such integrates teaching, research, and advanced patient care, making it an attractive academic medical center. This facility offers a full spectrum of comprehensive health care services, using state-of-the-art technology and innovative programs, as well as education and research benefits. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Duties include but aren't limited to the following: Major Duties/Responsibilities: The Section Chief for Neurology will be responsible for assisting the Chief Specialty Care in the tracking, monitoring, reporting, supervision and oversight of: physician productivity, Neurology section and other reports, and supervision of clinical and administrative staff. Duties will include administration of the section and clinical duties but are not limited to: 1. Directs, manages, and coordinates the planning and implementation of VA Neurology care throughout the VA Augusta Health Care System catchment areas. Administrative duties will be approximately 20% of mapped time. 2. Maintains clinical duties in neurology service, which may include general neurology clinics, consults, procedures, or inpatient care. 3. Develops or directs the development of performance standards, evaluates the performance of key supervisors, and reviews the evaluations made by subordinate supervisors or other employees. 4. Assists the Chief Specialty Care with budget development and execution for VA Neurology Care. 5. Exercises administrative, programmatic, clinical, and academic oversight of Neurology Care Service and programs to ensure delivery of quality services. 6. Serves as the principal spokesperson and advocate for Neurology Care and programs within the VA Medical Center. 7. Coordinates and integrates clinical and administrative aspects of the programs into a comprehensive package of services to meet the needs of the Veteran population. 8. Directs patient care needs assessments; identifies gaps in services and supports program development to meet those needs 9. Serves as a member of relevant committees. 10. Develops short and long-range goals and objectives for provision of Neurology Section and programs. 11. Ensures that there is compliance with all Joint Commission and other regulatory body functions and standards that are applicable to Neurology Section and programs (assessment of the patient; care of the patient; patient rights/organizational ethics, continuum of care; safety, etc.). 12. Integrates the Neurology Section into primary functions of Specialty Care and the organization. 13. Oversees, develops, coordinates, and evaluates academic programs affiliated with Neurology Service and serves as liaison with the sponsoring institutions for such programs. 14. Coordinates and integrates interdepartmental and intradepartmental services, establishing and maintaining professional relationships with other services and facility management which result in improved patient care. 15. Assists the Chief, Specialty Care in reviewing the professional performance of all individuals with clinical privileges. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Relocation/Recruitment Incentives are authorized. Relocation Expenses (PCS) expenses are not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel. 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. Preferred Experience: Board Certification or equivalent qualification in Neurologist. 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing; clear, distinctive speech; and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting, telephone and computer usage, walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring of equipment/objects may be required. Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2024. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED AND REFERRED AS VACANCIES BECOME AVAILABLE. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.