Stand ready with VA to help in an emergency A disaster can strike at any time - an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or global pandemic can leave our Veterans, families, and communities in desperate need of help. That's why the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is creating Clinical Deployment Teams (CDTs) to stand ready to assist. We're looking for clinical personnel to serve on these teams and help transform how we provide health care services in times of great need.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 19, 2024 or until vacancy is filled. The first group of eligible applicants will be reviewed December 28, 2023. Subsequent reviews will be conducted as needed until position is filled. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Functions as the Physician Team leader of their Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Ambulatory Care Services, Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) setting at WCHCS. May perform additional duties (temporary or permanent) as a float provider (face-to-face, VA Video Connect (WC) or via telehealth) as those duties are assigned. Responsible for providing medical care in an outpatient setting following PACT principles. Will routinely provide medical care using Face-to-Face(F2F), VVC, and/or Telephone appointments. When performing duties as a float provider (F2F or telehealth) for remote patients, will provide care to outreach clinics as needed. Float provider duties (temporary or permanent) may require travel to the supported CBOC(s) periodically to cover a provider vacancy. Participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings to achieve a patient centered, holistic approach for clinical care and needs of the Veteran. This includes daily and weekly huddles with your PACT. Be available to deploy with 72 hours' notice within 2 windows of time per calendar year, for up to a month at a time. Work in a high-stress environment, possibly in austere conditions or an emergency setting. May deploy into austere conditions which are defined as: various housing and living conditions to include non-climate controlled, limited privacy sleeping facilities (for example, cots, tents, "hot-bunking", gymnasiums, or similar), limited shower and laundry facilities, and limited feeding options (such as shelf-stable meals, meals-ready-to-eat, and field kitchens). Agree to be deployed within their VISN outside of scheduled national CDT deployment windows. Treat or provide direct patient care within the requirements of practice/privileges/licensure. Participate in CDT training activities and demonstrate readiness to apply professional skills to a range of emergency situations. Ensure qualifications and required certifications are maintained, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification. Maintain CDT physical readiness requirements, vaccinations, and safety precautions related to infection control. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VHA Physician Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 0800 - 1630 (May vary depending on deployment and/or assigned facility needs) Telework: Ad-Hoc at Management Discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Relocation Incentives: May be Authorized 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 [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. Preferred Experience and Certifications All Specialties Experience in disaster medicine and/or completed advanced training (i.e. fellowship) in disaster or wilderness medicine. This may include experience in medical deployments. Additionally, training and/or experience in critical care medicine is favored. Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Certifications from American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN) are highly preferred: Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). (AHA certification preferred.) BLS/ACLS certification is recommended, but not required, for candidates who are board certified in Emergency Medicine (VHA Directive 1177, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, January 4, 2021). The selected employee will be required to receive these certifications prior to assuming clinical responsibilities and ensure current certifications after employment is maintained. Primary Care 3 or more years of experience in a Primary Care Setting. Prior experience in the hospital, emergency or trauma setting. Board Certified/Board Eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Practice. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. however, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

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:

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.]

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Victoria Schiller-Long
• Phone: (406) 373-3333
• Email: [email protected]