Palliative Medicine physicians are able to perform all services required in the practice of Palliative Medicine in the context of the VA system and their clinical privileges. Responsible for patient care and education of other providers and trainees who care for seriously ill Veterans, promoting the principles of appropriate management and standards of palliative care.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be available for qualified candidates 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 Palliative Care Major Duties Include: Responsible for consultation and follow up of palliative care delivered to patients under their care in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Consultative services will be provided to medicine and non-medicine services in a timely manner. Evaluate patients to assess changes in the physical and mental status during their stay. A consultation note, with the appropriate level of detail, will be entered into the medical record along with an assessment and plan for acute and ongoing care as well as discharge planning. Progress notes are written in the patient's chart on a regular basis. Supervise fellows, residents, students and/or nurse practitioners in the process of evaluation and treatment of the patient, and actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to medical interventions. Clinical documentation will include the concurrence with notes written by the fellow, resident, student or Nurse Practitioner as appropriate, in a manner consistent with the VA guidelines for resident and trainee supervision. During scheduled tour hours, be available for all urgent assessments and interventions as part of the inpatient care team. Meet with the palliative care interdisciplinary team regularly to develop and modify comprehensive palliative care plans for patients and their support persons. Maintain appropriate credentials and privileges. Participate in various hospital committees, Medicine Service and hospital in-service programs, as well as education programs of the Medicine Service and the hospital. In collaboration with the palliative care chief, engage in continuous quality improvement through the VA peer review process as well as palliative care team quality improvement efforts geared towards VA national standards. Collaborate with the palliative care chief and team to develop curriculum and provide graduate and undergraduate medical education as well as interdisciplinary education. Participate in scientific research as a clinician and educator, as appropriate, with the possibility of developing research based on the interests of the physician. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm with some call coverage.

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 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: Board Eligible/Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care Required; Fellowship training preferred. 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); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 4 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; 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 Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Candace Fitzgerald
• Phone: 317-988-2236
• Email: [email protected]