Physician (Anesthesiology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP loan repayment program

Federal health/vision/dental/insurance

Generous paid time off

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a physician for comprehensive evaluation and management of acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain. The role emphasizes multimodal therapy and a coordinated, patient-centered approach across teams, including telehealth where appropriate.

The position requires full licensure, residency completion, and board certification in anesthesiology or PMR preferred. Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility is offered, with a robust total rewards

Qualifications

• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• MD or DO degree from an approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive evaluation and management of pain using multimodal strategies.
• Support VA's National Pain Management Strategy and PMOP principles.
• Perform interventional procedures within granted privileges and competency.
• Maintain documentation and ensure patient safety in all care.

Skills

English proficiency

Board certified

Education

Doctor of Medicine

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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 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 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
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Anesthesiology or PMR and Pain Management Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• The physician provides comprehensive evaluation and management of acute - chronic - and cancer-related pain using a stepped-care - interdisciplinary model - integrating evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies with diagnostic and therapeutic interventional procedures
• This role supports VA's National Pain Management Strategy (PMOP) and the Six Essential Elements of Good Pain Care - emphasizing patient-centered - multimodal - opioid-sparing care coordinated across teams and via telehealth when appropriate
• Major Duties and Responsibilities Clinical Care: 1
• Comprehensive Pain Evaluation & Longitudinal Care Conduct detailed pain assessments (history - focused examination) - order and interpret relevant diagnostics - formulate individualized treatment plans - and provide longitudinal follow-up for efficacy - function - and safety
• Care plans follow VA/DoD Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines and PMOP principles
• Implement multimodal strategies prioritizing non-opioid modalities
• when opioids are considered - apply CDC 2022 recommendations (risk-benefit discussion - dosage prudence - follow-up - risk mitigation)
• Query State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) per VHA Directive 1306 and document results in CPRS
• utilize VA's integrated PDMP workflow where available
• Prescribe and manage controlled substances in accordance with VHA Directive 1108.01(2) and DEA regulations
• maintain accountability and documentation consistent with facility policy
• 2
• Interventional Procedures (Privileges-based fluoroscopic and/or ultrasound-guided) The provider performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within granted privileges and competency
• Representative procedures include (ordered broadly from foundational to advanced): Trigger Point and Soft Tissue Injections (e.g. - myofascial trigger points - peri-tendinous/enthesial injections)
• Peripheral Nerve Blocks (e.g. - occipital - ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric - intercostal - genicular)
• Intra-articular & Peri-articular Injections (e.g. - shoulder - hip - knee - sacroiliac joint)
• Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI) caudal - interlaminar - transforaminal (cervical/thoracic/lumbar)
• Facet-Mediated Pain Procedures intra-articular facet injections
• Medial Branch Blocks followed by Radiofrequency Neurotomy/Ablation (RFA) when indicated
• Sympathetic Blocks stellate ganglion - lumbar sympathetic - celiac/splanchnic blocks as clinically indicated
• Advanced Vertebrogenic/Spine Procedures - Intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation (Intracept) for chronic vertebrogenic low back pain in appropriately selected patients per NASS coverage recommendations and applicable payer/VA guidance
• Neuromodulation Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) (including trial and permanent implant) and - where clinically appropriate - dorsal root ganglion stimulation - following 2023 evidence-based consensus guidelines for patient selection - psychosocial screening - trial conduct - and success criteria
• Intrathecal Drug Delivery (ITDD) trial - pump implantation - programming - and longitudinal management per Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC) guidance on therapy selection - dosing - and safety risk mitigation
• Other advanced procedures as credentialed (e.g. - vertebral augmentation where approved - SI joint RFA - peripheral field stimulation) - consistent with national standards and facility privileging
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator 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 Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at [e-mail]
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am 4:30pm