Physician - Inpatient Spinal Cord (Recruitment/Relocation & EDRP Authorized)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid Time Off: 50-55 days annually

Malpractice liability protection

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a qualified physician in Augusta, GA. This role involves providing primary and specialty health services, including rehabilitation and spinal cord injury treatment.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a medical degree, have completed an accredited residency, and possess a full medical license to practice. The position offers competitive salary and extensive benefits including paid time off and retirement options.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or meet VA Policy requirements.
• Must have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.
• Completion of an accredited medical residency is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary care and specialty health services.
• Work as a consultant to facility wide services and SCI clinic.
• Participate in patient evaluations, diagnoses, and treatments.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Certification in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine

Education

Degree of doctor of medicine

Completion of residency in approved specialty

Job description

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut-off dates are on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

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: Certification in the subspecialty of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine is desirable but not required
• The incumbent must prove successful completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association approved post-graduate residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Internal Medicine - or Family Practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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.

Duties

• Our hospital provides primary care and specialty health services - including mental health services - physical therapy and rehabilitation - spinal cord injury treatment - and more
• Located on the Georgia/South Carolina border - the city of Augusta - GA lies on the Savannah River - which supports its diverse economic endeavors as well as vast recreation options
• The city is the center point of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) - a 13-county region that includes both Georgia and South Carolina
• It is located within close proximity to many major southern destinations including Atlanta - Columbia - and Charlotte
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized 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/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to: The incumbent may work in one or all the following units: SCI Inpatient wards - SCI Clinic - and as a consultant to facility wide services
• The incumbent reports to the Assistant Chief Spinal Cord Injury
• The incumbent will - as defined by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - and the subspecialty SCI Medicine - admit - evaluate - diagnose - and provide treatment or consultative services to patients in need of SCI/d care
• Upon providing competency and receiving approval - the incumbent may also perform specialty procedures as delineated in their clinical privileges
• The incumbent will be responsible for providing care to patients and will participate in the physician on call rotation
• The incumbent will assist the Service Chief in reviewing all interfacility consults (IFC) directed to the SCI service from the medical center or SCI spoke sites and will provide consultative services to spoke site providers as needed The incumbent will assist the Service Chief in reviewing the records of all new injuries referred to the SCI center and deciding as to whether the patient is appropriate for services at the SCI center
• The incumbent will assist the Service Chief ensuring that the service line meets all the SCI performance measures or health systems indicators
• The incumbent will assist the Service Chief in investigating issues that arise within the inpatient/outpatient services and will formulate action plans to resolve these issues
• The incumbent will assist the Service Chief while working with the SCI Business Manager and Admissions Clerk in managing the inpatient census and scheduled admissions based on staffing levels
• The incumbent will be responsible for the supervision and evaluation of midlevel providers assigned to the service
• The incumbent may be asked to attend meetings and act as a representative for the SCI Service Chief
• The incumbent will function as the acting SCI Service Chief in the absence of the SCI Service Chief and Assistant SCI Service Chief
• The incumbent will perform other duties as assigned by the SCI Service Chief
• The incumbent will comply with all established customer service protocols and demonstrate professionalism in terms of good judgment - ethical behavior - and professional demeanor always - in contacts with patients - peers and other employees
• The incumbent will always be attentive to the unique requirements per the age of the patient - the development capabilities of the individual and the cultural needs of the patients in all considerations of the type of care provided
• Computer security policies will be always followed with the strictest attention being paid as to HIPAA requirements to protect patient information
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm - Monday-Friday.