Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Education
• 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
• License
• 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - applicants must be able to perform the duties as a GI Physician and be able to communicate verbally
• Permitted assistance includes assistive devices and hearing aids.

Duties

• This Gastroenterology (GI) physician will provide comprehensive medical and selected specialty services for both outpatients and inpatients
• The Physician will be responsible for performing standard GI procedures such as upper such as upper endoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy
• The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Authorized
• This position is eligible for 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 your start date
• 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
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Yes 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 to include - but not limited to: Diagnosing - treating - and managing patients referred for management of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver which include - but are not limited to gastroesophageal reflux disease - Barrett's esophagus - dyspepsia - disorders of the gut brain axis - small bowel disease - inflammatory bowel disease - pancreatobiliary disease - anorectal disorders - alcoholic liver disease - non-alcoholic liver disease - viral hepatitis and cirrhosis
• Performs endoscopic procedures and cares for patients in the outpatient clinic and inpatient setting
• Evaluates patients in outpatient clinics - performs inpatient consultations - education of gastroenterology fellows - medical residents - and students - participating in assigned duties within Medical Service and will ideally also qualify for a potential academic appointment at Loma Linda University and University of California Riverside
• Additional clinical - teaching - research - and administrative responsibilities are possible
• A robust ACGME-accredited fellowship training program in gastroenterology / hepatology provides ample teaching opportunities
• Procedural duties will include performing diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower endoscopy procedures (including PEG placement - esophageal dilation - and other basic therapeutics)
• Performing histories and physical examinations - endoscopy consultations - virtual visits (telehealth) and developing treatment and follow up plans
• Responsible for completing outpatient encounters - inpatient encounters and correctly coding visits in accordance with coding guidelines
• Responsible for completing e-consults
• Responsible for clinical reviews to triage urgency of visit for the patient's medical problems
• ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES In partnership with the Associate Chief of Staff - Surgical Services - participates in strategic planning for the service
• As requested by the Associate Chief of Staff - Surgical Services attends and provides input - as appropriate - to the outpatient clinic management and other committees and councils - as needed
• Attends clinical and administrative staff meetings as may be required or directed by the Associate Chief of Staff - Surgical Services
• Actively promotes performance improvement measures within the Gastroenterology Section
• The staff GI Physician supports VHA and all Surgical Services directives - policies - procedures - rules and regulations
• EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES The GI Physician collaborates with other physicians to ensure proper education of medical students and residents when applicable
• Maintains Continuing Medical Education (CME) - State Medical License - and VA mandatory training prior to expiration
• Maintains moderate sedation privileges
• certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday - Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm - PST