Physician

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration, TVHS, invites applications for a Staff Physiatrist in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R). You will provide clinical physiatry services, including outpatient and inpatient care, and collaborate with the rehabilitation team to support Veterans’ care.

The role emphasizes teaching residents and medical students, with responsibilities spanning program development, accreditation, and clinical coverage as needed.

Qualifications

• MD/DO degree from an approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine/surgery in the US.
• Residency in PM&R with board eligibility or certification.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Commitment to VA qualification standards and CME requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical physiatry services to Veterans in PM&R.
• Assess and treat outpatients and inpatients referred by consultations.
• Teach residents and medical students in PM&R.
• Participate in program development, accreditation, and ongoing evaluation.
• Provide administrative capabilities and coverage for staff as needed.

Skills

English proficiency

Clinical communication

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

MD/DO degree

Board eligibility/certification PM&R

Tools

EMG/nerve testing

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) in the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS). This position provides support to the Chief of PM&R Service in carrying out the mission of the service and VA Medical Center. This planning may include resource utilization - future program directions - marketing and financial review/planning. The PMRS staff physician independently provides clinical Physiatrist services to eligible Veterans.

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 one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• License: 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 15 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use of cranes and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• The incumbent must be physically - emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 Duties include but not limited to: The incumbent is expected to interact with the Veteran as well as family members - significant others - community agencies and providers - and other staff
• The staff physiatrist will be responsible for assessing and prescribing treatment for outpatients and inpatients referred by consultations
• Providing specialty tests such as electrodiagnostic testing and other procedures such as peripheral joint injections - soft tissue injections - and botulinum toxin injections for spasticity as determined by needs of the service and training/certification/skills demonstrated
• Providing coverage for other physicians as needed during times of absence including clinical coverage - oversight of Physician Assistant(s) - and other staff
• The staff physiatrist will work with patients - families and rehabilitation team members and other providers
• When appropriate and based on academic appointments - staff physiatrists are responsible for the teaching of residents and medical students - as well as responsible for oversight of the care provided by residents and students
• Staff physiatrists will participate in the administration of programs provided by and other staff functions as delegated by the Chief of PMRS
• Educational responsibilities include education of other staff in the medical center who are involved in rehabilitation programs
• Programmatic responsibilities include establishment of policies and procedures
• relationship management - promotion of programs
• ongoing program evaluation
• practice improvement activities
• evaluation of resource utilization and other program development
• Advocacy within the medical center and the community for the department programs and the Veterans they serve
• The staff physiatrist is assigned to outpatient general physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics and subspecialty clinics including but not limited to Amputee/Orthotics clinic - Musculoskeletal clinic - General PMRS clinic - Wheelchair clinic - Spinal Cord injury clinic - Traumatic Brain Injury clinic - Pain clinic - EMG clinic - and other specialty clinics as needed and as they are developed
• The staff physiatrist will spend time on administrative work related to program development and accreditation - as well as other committee work as determined by Service Chief
• The staff physiatrist will spend time directly teaching and coordinating teaching activities for PM&R medical students - residents - and other professionals (e.g
• Physical Therapists - Physician Assistants) as necessary
• Provides opportunities for professional continuing education through journal clubs - case presentations - workshops - and conferences
• Participates in oversight of the PM&R resident trainee program
• Ensures that PM&R residents receive education and training consistent with the requirements of the affiliated medical school and of the ACGME and AAPM&R residency review committee
• Participates in formal resident education curriculum
• Participates in research if appropriate (examples include oversight of case reports and other scholarly activity
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Hours are based on needs of the service