Career Center

Summary

The Pulmonologist is expected to provide comprehensive patient care in the form of consultative pulmonology patient care at Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC). The physician will manage patients with ongoing pulmonology conditions - in collaboration with other services/sections of the FxHCC. The incumbent is accountable to the FxHCC Pulmonary Section Lead assuring the most effective delivery of care in services within the FxHCC Pulmonary Section.

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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Lifting - prolonged standing - frequent bending - stooping - walking - reaching and repetitive motion
• The mental/sensory requirements include recall - reasoning - problem-solving - hearing - speaking clearly - writing - keyboarding - reading and logical thinking
• The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace - requiring handling of multiple priorities - frequent - sometimes intense customer interactions - and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment
• There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease - illness - and hazardous materials.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 Duties include but are not limited to the following: The physician is a board-certified physician with advanced clinical experience
• Will perform hands on clinical work
• Current BLS required /ACLS desirable
• Interviews - examines - selects diagnostic testing appropriately - and interprets/collates results to coordinate patient care
• Communicates and documents with clarity to patients and medical personnel to coordinate patient care
• Midlevel supervision within Pulmonary-Critical Care Section
• Procedural skills may include arterial puncture - EKG interpretation - arthrocentesis - abdominal paracentesis - venipuncture - nasogastric tube insertion - PFT interpretation - moderate sedation - lumbar puncture - thoracentesis - intra-arterial line & central venous line placement - Swan-Ganz catheter insertion - bronchoscopy with routine procedures - bronchial stent placement - bronchoscopy with trans bronchial biopsy/aspiration - chest tube insertion and fluoroscopy equipment usage
• Consultative input for patient care
• Collaborate with midlevel providers and physician colleagues with clear communication and documentation
• Performs the administrative components of patient care management - such as: Participation in the educational programs for section personnel as well as the medical staff
• Participate in monitoring the quality - safety - and appropriateness of patient care - both at the Section and facility level
• Miscellaneous activities of the Medical Service inclusive - but not limited to special projects that help fulfill and/or enhance the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs as assigned by the FxHCC Pulmonary Section Lead - FxHCC Director of Clinical Services - and/or Executive Leadership
• Attend Pulmonary team meetings
• Demonstrate ethical conduct and serve as a positive role model to others at all levels of the organization
• Participate in quality assurance programs and chart reviews
• Complete medical records in accordance with Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff
• Participate in Medical Staff committee assignments
• Perform other duties assigned by the FxHCC Pulmonary Section Lead - or designee (i.e. - Administrative Officer)
• Participate in - and attend - CME activities and VA continuing educational activities
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm