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. 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 certification or board eligible in General Internal Medicine and the subspecialty of Gastroenterology. Preferred Experience: Experience in Endoscopy, Diagnostic, Screening, and Therapeutic Bravo pH. Experience in an outpatient GI clinic. 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: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling (1 hour), pushing (1 hour), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), repeated bending (8 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted) Environmental Factors: Working closely with others ["The gastroenterologist provides direct comprehensive patient care in an outpatient and/or hospital setting to adults with acute and chronic medical conditions that may involve or be suspected of involving the luminal gastrointestinal system, the liver, biliary tree or pancreas and serves as a consultant to other physicians. Duties include but are not limited to: Evaluates and manages adults who have single or multiple disorders in all areas of gastroenterology. Provides care in secondary and tertiary care settings. May provide primary care to patients with chronic, active gastrointestinal problems. Substantial portion of the provider's time will be spent in a procedure unit performing endoscopic procedures. History taking, physical examination, test interpretation, patient counseling and differential diagnosis as well as medical therapeutics of these conditions. Performs and interprets esophagogastroduodenoscopy, PEG's, enteroscopy and colonoscopy, including obtaining appropriate tissue samples. Efficiently performs the complete Endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures to intended extent, including thorough examination/ visualization, in complex cases. Efficiently performs complex therapeutic interventions during and outside scope examination. Performs various methods of dilation of strictures. Performs and supervises paracentesis (diagnostic and therapeutic), liver biopsies, and manometric gastrointestinal motility studies and pH studies. May perform ERCP's and endoscopic ultrasound with FNA. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am to 4:30 pm Telework: Available on an ad hoc basis, as determined by the needs of the service. (This is not a virtual or remote position.) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Education Debt Reduction Program Authorized: Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov and VHAEDRPProgramSupport@VA.gov, the EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance. Learn more. 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards."]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
