Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Physician - Section Chief Hospitalist in Shreveport, Louisiana
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. 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. Responsibilities Shreveport offers you the 'lagniappe', which means a little something extra! Shreveport-Bossier City is situated on the Red River in northwest Louisiana. Commonly known as the 'Ark-La-Tex', the point where Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas meet. The Shreveport-Bossier City area is home to Barksdale Air Force Base, as well as numerous colleges and universities, theaters, lakes, golf courses, beautiful housing areas, churches, and great schools. With a population of nearly 400,000 in the city's metropolitan region, the area promises much to do while maintaining a reasonable cost of living and an excellent, temperate climate. You'll enjoy a unique combination of two great American heritages: a little Cajun, and since we're less than 15 minutes from the Texas border, a little Lone Star too. Shreveport-Bossier boasts elegant Southern charm and a relaxed attitude that suggests you kick your boots off and stay a while to enjoy year-round festivals, Vegas-style gaming, great local dining experiences, live music and family attractions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VHA Physician Total Rewards Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Contact Robert A. Knudsen, Robert.Knudsen@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to: The Section Chief - Hospitalist duties involve administration and patient care on both non-teaching and teaching 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 Section Chief of Hospital Medicine for the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, providing leadership and guidance to assigned clinical and administrative staff, complying with Medical Center policies and the Medical Staff bylaws. Provides direct patient care in inpatient setting. Observes patient responses, testing procedures, use of equipment and review of patient records. Thoroughly documents examinations and histories using appropriate programs and forms. Provides education to other physicians and healthcare professionals regarding medical disorders and their treatments. Provides education, supervision, and mentoring to medical students and residents in medical disorders and their treatments. Participates in special duties as assigned by the Chief of Staff or Chief of Medicine, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center. Participates in quality assurance programs and chart reviews. Attends Medical Staff meetings and serves on Medical Staff committees, as assigned. Completes all medical records (including discharge summaries) in accordance with Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 PM. On-call coverage: as needed, with schedule adjustment. Requirements Conditions of Employment NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer, all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 and maintain CDT physical readiness. 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in austere or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. 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. 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. Additional Requirement: Board certified in Internal Medicine. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Placement in this position is subject to meeting the physical requirements of this position. Pre-placement medical examination is required: Functional Requirements Light lifting, under 15 pounds. Light carrying, under 15 pounds. Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Both hands required. Walking 2 hours. Standing 2 hours. Both legs required. Ability to rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Both eyes required. Depth perception. Ability to distinguish basic colors. Ability to distinguish shades of colors. Hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors Outside and inside. Working closely with others. Working alone. Protracted or irregular hours of work. 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 job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information about the Fair Chance to Compete Act and the compliant process.