The Attending Physician hired as the lead in Hospital Epidemiology (herein referred to as "Hospital Epidemiologist") will serve as the facility subject matter expert and principal physician point of contact with regards to Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) and Hospital Epidemiology, including pandemic preparedness programs/policy, clinical care, and education.

Duties

**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until January 31st, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 16th, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule: Full-time. Schedule will be determined by supervisor. 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 Major duties include but are not limited to: Chair the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and guide the program using principles of epidemiology and data analysis, including providing subject matter expertise and policy recommendations which would include, but are not limited to: a) procedures for precautions towards the prevention of infections; b) environmental sanitation and disinfection; c) infection surveillance; d) epidemiologic reviews; e) consultation on surveillance, prevention, and epidemiologic follow-up on communicable diseases/infections affecting VA staff in cooperation with employee Occupational Health; f) advise and/or participate in appropriate local facility committees; g) provide guidance for activities under the Infection Prevention and Control Program Participate as a lead in pandemic preparedness efforts and programs, together with IPC and other departments Implement strategies for the prevention and control of disease directed towards patients/residents, visitors, employees, and others identified by local needs, including during outbreak and epidemic situations including but not limited to: a)ensuring the medical facility complies with policy documents developed to support infectious diseases and infection prevention and control programs, MDRO prevention, antimicrobial stewardship and bio surveillance activities; b)ensure that educational resources as related to infectious diseases, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship and biosurveillance are in place and available for patients/residents, visitors, employees and others as identified by local needs; c)ensuring the integration of the Infectious Diseases section and the Infection Prevention and Control Program and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program - Study and review factors that can determine disease, disability, or other healthcare outcomes (usually with a focus on infectious diseases and hospital associated infections) Participate as a core member of the multi-disciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team at VAPAHCS Care of Veterans with Infectious Diseases in VAPAHCS through in-person, video, and other telehealth modalities Disseminating and educating on new Hospital Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship policies, management guidelines, national VHA guidance or directives to facility ID staff, leadership and providers. Serving as core teaching faculty at VAPAHCS/Stanford University, which may include delivering Hospital Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship-related presentations as part of Stanford Fellowship ID Lecture Series, internal medicine conferences or lecture series; primary care quarterly clinical updates; or other opportunities Contributing to medical trainee education in Hospital Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship, including precepting residents and fellows rotating in the VAPAHCS and participating as ID subject matter expert in multidisciplinary case conferences There may be additional duties suitable for an ID physician as assigned by the ID section chief

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 certified or board eligible in infectious disease. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is 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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Rachel Reliford
• Phone: 775-223-5351
• Email: [email protected]