Physician - Pulmonologist - EDRP Authorized_

Summary The VA Amarillo Health Care System is seeking a Pulmonologist for the location in Amarillo, TX. Education Debt Reduction Program is authorized. Please see "Education" section. Responsibilities This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until February 21, 2025, or until all positions are filled. The first cut-off date is September 5, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Evaluates patients by examining thoroughly. Appropriate clinical, laboratory and other pertinent data is obtained to determine care the patient is provided. Diagnosis: lnterprets and evaluates clinical data for the purpose of determining diagnosis and clinical status. Prescribes appropriate and timely treatment; applies indicated therapeutic procedures; recognizes and assesses changes in behavior, symptoms, signs, and other pertinent facts about the patient and modifies plan of treatment when indicated. Recognizes own capabilities and limitations. Recognizes emergency situations and takes timely necessary action. Maintains active certification in BLS, ACLS, or both as required by facility Bylaws. Develops and maintains rapport and gains the confidence of patients and relatives through competence and interpersonal skills to the end that patients and others are informed participants in the treatment effort. Recognizes the need for consultation and utilizing facility or clinic specialty skills in diagnosis and treatment. Responds to inpatient/outpatient consultations in a timely manner, documents consultations according to procedure and is actively engaged with the primary team or clinician in collaborating on the patient's care and management. Records the History/Physical and other examinations and changes in patient's status promptly. Unusual incidents are promptly reported to the appropriate official. Clear, accurate, and adequate clinical records are kept current and completed at time of discharge. The treatment plan is clearly stated. Utilizes the Computerized Patient Record System. All progress notes, orders are to be completed and signed daily. Covers both the individual and group learning experiences where one serves as the learning facilitator in the role of a mentor or teacher for residents, trainees, or employees. As a mentor, plans and guides educational activities to meet the individual needs of the learner within the resources available. Counsels learner on professional/occupational goals as they relate to education activities. Encourages active participation on the part of the student. Actively solicits evaluation from students of teaching and educational experiences. Assures that content is based upon student and patient care needs, up-to-date and at the appropriate level for the audience. Develops courses, lectures or programs based on preestablished objectives. Employs learning resources and media (library, film, slides, etc.) in an appropriate manner. Assesses educational needs for both continuing and basic education programs, using audits, self-assessment surveys, morbidity and mortality data, and new developments in health care. Establishes and maintains procedures for professionals to self-assess and partake in needs assessment procedures. Selects needs for which education/training is the most cost-effective intervention. Establishes educational objectives consistent with both the educational needs and available educational resources and identifies appropriate learners. Completes all mandatory required training yearly. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 - 16300. Includes on-call (may include weekends/holiday) Bargaining Unit Status: This position is part of the bargaining unit. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): See "Education" Section 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 Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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: (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. English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Experience performing pulmonary function testing and management of the following: Chronic shortness of breath, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Restrictive lung disease, Preoperative testing, Impairment or disability, Early morning wheezing Experience reviewing Pulmonary Functions Tests performed by a respiratory therapist, physiotherapist, and/or general practitioner. Experience answering general questions about patients with lung disease. Experience identify the severity of pulmonary impairment based on pulmonary function testing. Experience treating and managing pulmonary conditions. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit a.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Both legs required; Able to see a computer; Hearing (aid may be permitted). 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. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Education Debt Reduction Program: 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. Program 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. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for EDRP incentive. Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.