Physician - Hospice/Palliative Care

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, IA, is seeking a Physician - Hospice/Palliative Care for full-time oversight of PHC programs across care settings.

The incumbent will lead clinical oversight, coordinate patient care, and provide education to patients and families, while working within VA's whole health system and mission to honor America's veterans.

Qualifications

• Must have MD or DO degree from an approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Residency training in an accredited program leading to board eligibility.
• Possession of or eligibility for board certification in a relevant specialty.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient care within Hospice/Palliative Care programs.
• Lead clinical oversight and program development across inpatient, outpatient, and purchased care settings.
• Provide medical education and counseling to patients and families.
• Collaborate with health professionals to optimize patient care and program performance.

Skills

Physician license

Board eligibility

English proficiency

Hospice & Palliative Care experience

Education

MD degree or equivalent (US medical degree)

Job description

Summary

The VA Central Iowa Healthcare System is recruiting for (1) full-time Physician - Hospice/Palliative Care. The incumbent - Hospice/Palliative Care Physician is a key member of clinical oversight within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service Line and is responsible for the clinical and quality oversight of VA's Palliative and Hospice Care (PHC) programs in multiple settings (both inpatient - outpatient - and purchased) across the continuum of VA services within the VA Central Iowa HCS.

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: Hospice and Palliative Car experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being
• The Physician - Hospice/Palliative Care provides medical care for patients within the Hospice and Palliative Care Programs
• These patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic
• The incumbent shall coordinate patient care programs based upon the admitting chief complaint and shall perform the following duties: Duties include: Evaluates facility patient care delivery systems and validates or identifies barriers to safe - effective care
• Presents findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials and participates in implementation of changes
• Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and findings from research and/or studies
• Facilitates the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals - health managers and other health care personnel
• Exhibits exceptional clinical skills and consistently demonstrates a high level of expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill - multi-symptomatic patients
• Admission history and physicals - admission orders - aftercare plans and discharge summaries
• Provide medical education /counseling of patients and their families
• Demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat patients seen in consultation with other health care providers
• Promote patient care programs for HPC patients and periodically updates them based upon current and new concepts
• Integrates the activities of the HPC with other patient care programs at the facility
• 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm.