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 certified or Board eligible in Gastroenterologist. 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: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. 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. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted. ["**This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 13, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm 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 Gastroenterologist (GI) physician is responsible in providing comprehensive medical and selected specialty services for outpatients, inpatients, and nursing home patients. The physician will provide patient care to veterans in the areas of Gastroenterology in the form of consultative care. The Gastroenterologist will diagnose, treat, and manage patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods and techniques. Provide services such as inpatient and outpatient consultation services related to GI and liver disease. Physician is responsible for overseeing the administration of conscious sedation. The Physician performs GI procedures including but not limited to EGD (gastroscopy), stricture dilation, EGD with Peg, colonoscopies, push enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, GI manometry, Bravo study, Hydrogen breath test, advance imaging studies like NBI and chromoendoscopy, other advanced procedure such as EMR. The physician is required to actively participate and lead in research and education/training activities. The physician must meet requirements for academic appointment with UCSF (University of California San Francisco) Fresno Medical Education Program. The incumbent will be involved in the education and training of residents, fellows, medical students, and non-physician clinical trainees, participating in grand rounds, and lectures. Administrative, direct patient care, teaching, and research are all integrated into the activities and decision processes of the staff Gastroenterologist physician. The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Works closely with all healthcare professionals throughout the VACCHCS, and provides consultations to other services. Performs chart reviews and coordinate with Hospitalists regarding patient care issues. Responsible to document patient care data in electronic medical records (CPRS) such as history and physical exams; daily progress notes for inpatients; encounters for outpatients; consult notes; discharge summaries and instructions; transfer summaries; and, enter new and renewal prescriptions. Participates in quality assurance programs and chart reviews. Complies with all quality performance measures and improvement programs. The physician will be subject to professional performance, including clinical and technical skills, as well as VACCHCS performance improvement monitoring activities (e.g. Ongoing Professional Evaluations (OPPE), Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE), etc.). Gastroenterology on-call responsibilities will be shared with the other staff Gastroenterologists. Participates in committees and task forces. Participates in providing Quality Assurance oversight of contracts under the cognizance of the Gastroenterology Section of Medicine Service. This includes locum tenens physicians and VA patients sent to the contracted local community facilities"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
