Career Center

The Cape Girardeau Health Care Center is now open and is looking for a General Surgeon to join their team. The Cape Health Care Center offers primary care and specialty health services, including mental health care, dermatology, physical therapy, chiropractic/acupuncture, cardiology, optometry, audiology, and much more. 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 Certified preferred, Board Eligible will be given consideration. 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 a pre-employment physical. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Far visions correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted. ["Cape Girardeau is the ideal place to live, work and play. Residents enjoy short commute times, an array of education, entertainment, and cultural options, set upon a beautiful backdrop all with a reasonable cost of living and a welcoming small-town feel. Cape Girardeau is the right-size alternative to big city living. As the regional destination for healthcare, education, entertainment, shopping and employment, Cape Girardeau's population swells to 100,000 daily and it is also the home of Southeast Missouri State University. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The Cape Girardeau Health Care Center is seeking a board certified or board-eligible General Surgeon to perform the full range of general surgery procedures, to include, but not limited to endoscopic procedures, performing outpatient surgical procedures, provide consultations, work-ups and pre- and post-operative care. The General Surgeon provides direct hands-on patient care and assesses patients for acute illnesses and determine whether patients' needs are appropriate for management in the outpatient setting. Along with acute scenarios, the general surgeon manages chronic disease and may provide clinical guidance over the phone, by Secure Messaging and through the mail. Clinical responsibilities include the full spectrum of operative and non-operative management of general surgery patients to include, but not limited to, hernia, colon, small bowel, bariatric, biliary, pancreatic, adrenal, esophageal, soft tissue, vascular, endocrine, breast, and liver diseases. Excellence in operative skills needs to be documented. The general surgeon ensures accurate documentation of medical assessments and observations. The general surgeon may be required to oversee mid-level practitioners, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants and may be required to supervise anesthesia staff in the absence of an anesthesiologist. The general surgeon will need to establish inter-personal and intra-departmental relationships to enhance optimal patient care. The general surgeon needs to be competent and effective oral and written communication. The general surgeon provides appropriate patient/family member teaching and education; evaluates effectiveness and level of patient/family member understanding of teaching provider. The general surgeon will need to utilize the CPRS computer software/program for entering and signing of medical orders such as laboratory studies, radiological studies, etc. The general surgeon will need to maintain familiarity and compliance with hospital infection prevention policies and procedures, ensuring the use of antiseptic methods of all in-clinic procedures to ensures a safe work environment and employee safe work habits. Clinical Privileges shall be a function of the VAMC Executive Committee of the Surgical Staff clinical privileging process and the overall demand for services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Hours may vary based on each case."]