The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Veterans Health Care System is currently recruiting for a Primary Care Staff Physician located at the Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic in Harlingen, Texas. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). 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. Education: Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensure and Registration: 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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. 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). Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of VA or DOD experience. Board Certified or Board Eligible in Internal or Family Medicine Experience providing effective medical treatement, consultation and coordinating care in the outpatient or ambulatory primary care setting. Experience in women's health care duties to include, assessment and treatment of female patients, including pelvic examinations, pap smears and other related gender-specific healthcare of women, reviews diagnostic studies and reports abnormal findings. Experience ordering appropriate tests including lab and imaging studies and incorporate results for a comprehensive treatment plan to include coordinating care between various specialties and disciplines. 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4-8hrs); Standing (4-8hrs); Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability ["The Staff Primary Care Physician functions as the physician leader within a multidisciplinary PACT team or as a float or gap provider assigned to provide comprehensive, collaborative acute and continuity care to an assigned panel of Veterans as well as to patients outside of the assigned panel when Veteran care indicates a need for such. Medical care is delivered in accordance with current clinical practice guidelines with attention to prevention via utilization of evidence-based clinical decision-making tools. In addition to the provision of high-quality medical care, PACT Physicians demonstrate excellence in customer service via compassionate and informed interpersonal relationships with Veterans, family members and staff. PACT Physicians report directly to the assigned Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and ultimately to the Associate Chief of Staff for Primary Care (ACOS/PC). Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Ongoing, continuous care of one or more assigned panel(s) of Veterans. Utilizing all available tools, such as registries, to enable effective and efficient identification and intervention of individual patients and cohorts. Ensuring appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patients assigned to the patient panel. Functioning at the full extent of the team member's relevant clinical privileges, credentials, scopes of practice, elements of practice, certification, functional statement, or other VHA or local facility approved documentation of competency. Participating in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and care delivery to patients. Implementing primary care operations management processes, as appropriate. Managing communications and facilitating safe transitions of patients between the PACT's site of care and other health care settings, using informal and formal communication methods, as appropriate. Providing health education and health coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self-management skills to patients and personal support persons, commensurate with the documented expertise or professional training of the PACT member. Ensuring the patient has same-day access for face-to-face and telephone care visits during regular clinic hours. Collaborating with PACT staff to develop personal health plans that incorporate care management and care coordination appropriate to the patient's needs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. 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 Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
