Physician (Orthopedic Surgery)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Harlingen (TX); On-site; USD 230,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Texas is seeking a Staff Physician - Orthopedics Services to provide comprehensive orthopedic care, education, and leadership within the VA system. The role emphasizes clinical duties across ambulatory and inpatient care, with potential involvement in research and training of medical students and residents.

The incumbent will primarily serve at the Health Care Center in Harlingen, with responsibilities including collaboration with other specialties, quality

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship as required by VA policy.
• MD or DO degree from an approved medical school.
• Current full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Residency in an ACGME/AOA-accredited program leading to board eligibility.
• Board certification preferred by American College of Orthopedic Surgery.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive orthopedic patient care across ambulatory and inpatient settings.
• Educate medical students and residents; supervise other providers as needed.
• Engage in performance improvement activities and research to advance patient care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate patient management.
• Travel between VA facilities as required by service needs.

Skills

English proficiency

Leadership

Education

MD or DO

Tools

CPRS

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.

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 Certification by the American College of Orthopedic Surgery
• Demonstrated leadership responsibilities: participation in staff meetings - hospital committees - and peer review process
• Advanced skills and knowledge of contemporary specialty practice
• Advanced skills to provide a full range of evaluations to determine the type of degree of illnesses within the specialty scope
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Duties

• The Staff Physician - Orthopedics Services is responsible for patient care - patient/family education - and participation in any indicated clinical research in the Orthopedic Service
• The staff physician provides comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Orthopedics
• The scope of these activities covers all phases of ambulatory care
• Other responsibilities may include education of medical students and residents and/or supervision of other providers
• The majority of the Staff Physicians time is devoted to patient care and education - with the remaining time set aside for performance improvement activities - creative research to improve patient care - activities sufficient to maintain proficiency in state-of-the-art Orthopedic care
• Most of the work takes place at Health Care Center at Harlingen some travel may be required to meet the needs at various sites of VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System
• Clinical Duties include but are not limited to: Responding to and completing consults received for the evaluation of orthopedic care Performing comprehensive - detailed - targeted - initial history and physical examinations Ordering diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests - X-rays - electromyography (EMG) - electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other tests Consulting with other disciplines - as necessary - to complete the patient evaluation Carrying out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making Surgical competence in Orthopedic procedures (Arthroscopic Surgery) is desirable and documentation of procedures within the past 12 months will be requested reflective of the scope of privileges requested Participating in VISN and national level efforts in Orthopedic programs Teaching students of various fields and specialties - etc
• Administrative Duties include but are not limited to: Writing Medical Orders and prescriptions for non-controlled substances Documenting care provided in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) Documenting detailed - targeted - initial history and physical examination required for evaluation in the electronic tool(s) Obtaining consent and documents procedures performed f Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care - medical conditions - and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs Reviewing and revising policies and scope of practice/standards of operation Reviewing and guiding protocols in chronic patient managements to include coordinating efforts with prosthetics department to meet patients needs and maintain fiscal responsibility - etc
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified individuals 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 08:00am - 04:30pm