Summary

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
• 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: Preferred Experience: Board eligibility/certification in urologic surgery with special competency (training - experience or fellowship) in robotic surgery
• Ideal candidate would have experience - training - and/or fellowship in urologic oncology
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to pass a physical.

Duties

• The incumbent serves as Staff Urologist under the immediate supervision of the Chief of Urology service line within the Surgical Care service line within the Salem VA Healthcare System
• The physician will maintain licensure and credentials sufficient to extend to the incumbent the authority to practice Urology inclusive of all diagnostic and medical therapeutic modalities for the treatment of diseases - conditions and injuries related to the field of Urology
• The incumbent Urologist must maintain an active knowledge of the patient care process of the department of Veterans Affairs - the medical center and its clinics
• The Urologist is expected to maintain his/her skills at the highest level in all the areas of work which include outpatient clinics - inpatient wards - as a consultant - in procedurals areas - as well as the operating room
• Duties and Responsibilities: Evaluate patients who are presented for care or whose condition requires evaluation by a physician
• Evaluation will include the following: a detailed and complete history and physical - plans for follow-up care including appropriate consultations and appointments - and effective communication of plan of care with patient and/or family
• Perform inpatient and ambulatory surgical procedures - to include - but not limited to cystoscopies - stent placement - TURP - open and/or laparoscopic and/or robotic prostatectomy and nephrectomy - bladder resection - urethral dilations - and transrectal needle biopsies of prostate (ultrasound assistance with technician - with the expectation that urologist will obtain biopsy specimens)
• Utilize flexible and rigid Storz instrumentation
• Utilize endoscopic techniques and surgical robotics as appropriate
• Appropriately utilize and process Reusable Medical Equipment (RME)
• All personnel who are involved with the reprocessing of RME are responsible for knowing what reusable instruments - equipment - medical devices or supplies are utilized (inventory) in their clinical area
• Write orders including initial admission orders as well as changes in current treatment plan)
• Write progress notes
• Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies
• Write prescriptions (restricted to formulary)
• Order diagnostic laboratory procedures
• Order diagnostic tests and discriminate between normal and abnormal findings and make appropriate treatment decisions
• Refer - when indicated - patients with complex health problems to other providers within the medical center or to other VA Medical Centers
• Consult with physicians and others - when requested - to augment the care of their patients
• Actively participate in the co-management of patients in consultation with and under the supervision of the attending physician
• Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions to units/programs in the Medical Center
• Be fully involved in the supervision and teaching of residents - house staff and other trainees assigned to unit as appropriate
• Maintain admission privileges through full-time staff
• Maintain collaborative ICU privileges
• Participate effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborate with multidisciplinary team members
• Undergo and perform peer review of selected cases when assigned
• Participate in shared rotation of night and weekend On-Call coverage
• May have joint appointment with our academic affiliate University of Virginia - School of Medicine
• Ensure that the practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission - CARF - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice psychiatric guidelines - VISN standards - National statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - mandatory continuing education and HIPAA policies
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov? - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (Hours to be determined)