Summary

The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System - Temple. Texas is currently recruiting for two (2) Gastroenterologist to provide direct patient care through GI consultations and follow-up care in General GI and Hepatology for both inpatient and outpatient settings. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

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 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: Board Certified/Board Eligible in Gastroenterology Ability to work within an organization to provide strategic direction
• Ability to provide compassionate - appropriate - and effective patient care
• Four years post fellowship experience practicing clinical gastroenterology
• Procedural experience than 500 EDG's and 500 colonoscopies
• Experience teaching residents/fellows
• 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.

Duties

• The Gastroenterologist must be board certified or board eligible in Gastroenterology and maintain professional competency as indicated in the delineation of privileges
• All physicians must maintain current BLS certification as indicated per medical center policies
• The Gastroenterologist will provide comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Gastroenterology - with an additional focus on patients with hepatitis
• In addition to patient care - the physician may have responsibilities in other areas such as - education
• The Gastroenterology Staff Physician will be located in the Specialty Clinic
• The Gastroenterology staff physician should be skilled in providing patient care and in coordinating the activities of other health care providers
• He/she should be an effective teacher for fellow staff members - house staff medical students and in allied health care disciplines
• He/she will be currently licensed in a State - Territory - or the District of Columbia and should preferable be a certified or qualified for examination by the American Board of Internal Medicine - or other appropriate specialty certifying boards
• The Gastroenterology staff physician is responsible for providing primary - secondary - and tertiary care in both hospitalized and outpatient settings - identifying patients' health problems and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs
• He/she is responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel - resolving problems affecting patient care and providing appropriate education for the patient/family members regarding the patient's care - patient's illness and its management
• A major percentage of the physician's time will be devoted to patient care
• Depending on other activities - sufficient time will be allotted to administrative duties
• The Gastroenterology staff physician will be responsible to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: 1
• Colonoscopy procedures 2
• Polypectomy 3
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy 4
• Upper Gl endoscopy 5
• Esophageal ligation or banding of varices 6
• Dilation of the esophagus (bouginage) 7
• Small bowel biopsy The Gastroenterologist must demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide patient care appropriate to the age of the patients served
• The Gastroenterologist provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the young adult (age 18-40) - middle adult (age 41-65) - and older adult (age 66-older) patient
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program: Authorized - see details in Education Section
• (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