The VA Central Western Massachusetts (CWM) Health Care System (HCS) is recruiting for a Board-Certified Orthopedics Physician. The candidate will provide high quality out-patient general orthopedic services at the health care facility in either Northampton or Worcester for the Veteran population. There is the possibility of being able to perform surgery at one of the other VA Hospitals in New England, if desired.

Duties

The desired candidate must have a strong commitment to patient care. You will work collaboratively as necessary in providing the care to Veterans. There are teaching opportunities at the Worcester clinic, working with Internal Medicine residents, medical students, and other learners from University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and local hospitals. VA CWM is part of the VA New England Network (VISN 1), which includes facilities in six New England states - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. VA CWM provides primary, specialty, and mental health care, including psychiatric, substance abuse and PTSD services, to more then 28,000 Veterans in central and western Massachusetts. VA CWM serves Veterans within the main campus in Northampton and multidisciplinary clinics in Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield, Greenfield, and Fitchburg. The Orthopedic Surgeon is a member of the Specialty Care Service Line and is responsible to the Service Line Manager (SCSLM). The physician is responsible for maintaining professional, technical, and administrative knowledge, competencies, and skills to provide effective, timely and high quality responses to patient's health care needs. They are responsible for the specialty care management of patients referred to the service. All physicians comply with credentialing and privileging and required monitoring and evaluation criteria. The physicians maintain high clinical standards that are carried into decision-making processes, and continually strive to maintain and enhance skills, which may include teaching residents and students and attending CME to increase clinical knowledge and skills. The physicians comply with current standards for medical record documentation and supervision of any learners (medial residents, etc.). Physicians will achieve a satisfactory compliance rate with the established Clinical Reminder, Clinical Performance Measures and Prevention Indicators (EPRP). The physician will provide appropriate care for Veterans ranging in age from 18 through geriatric years, taking into consideration diagnosis and physical, functional, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs. The Physician serves as a resource for nurse practitioners or physician assistants who are also delivering specialty care and responds to all staff in the specialty care service in regards to patient concerns. Responsibility include (but are not limited to): Outpatient care of referred patients, utilizing a team approach, across the continuum of care including acute and chronic comprehensive health assessment and care management. Full spectrum of out-patient surgical care including initiation and management of appropriate medications, testing, referring for more specialized care, and overall management of the patients general orthopedic conditions. Continuity and coordination of care when referring to surgical services outside of this facility. When referred for surgery, evaluation of patients to assess changes in physical status, lab values and vital signs on an out-patient basis before and after surgery. Advocacy for patient needs. Education of patients and families on medical and surgical recommendations and plans. Compliance with chronic disease and prevention indicators and documentation through CPRS reminders or other tools as directed. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate EDRP Authorized: 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. 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 the EDRP Coordinator at [email protected] 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, 8:00am-4:30pm

Requirements

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 are encouraged to apply and may 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 Allopathic 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. Preferred Experience: Previous VA experience. 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: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light Lifting (under 15 lbs.); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs.); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Pushing (up to 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 5 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Education

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. 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.
3. 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.]

Contacts

• Address Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Reesha Speller
• Phone: 757-450-6661
• Email: [email protected]