Physician- Palliative Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs invites applications for a Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Physician in Salt Lake City. The role leads operations of the Primary Care Service, supporting various clinics and palliative programs to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care to Veterans.

An academic appointment at the University of Utah is included. Responsibilities include clinical leadership across geriatrics and palliative clinics, teaching and research activities, and participation

Qualifications

• Must hold a full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Board certification preferred in Geriatrics and/or Palliative Care.
• Active involvement in academic medicine and teaching is expected.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical input and oversight for patient treatment plans.
• Ensure documentation of patient visits in CPRS within required timeframes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and supervise trainees.
• Engage in staff meetings and administrative duties as assigned.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

MD or DO

Board certification preferred

Job description

Summary

The Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Physician is a physician responsible for carrying out operations of the Primary Care Service to provide high-quality patient-centered care to Veterans under the different clinics and programs (e.g. Home Based Primary Care - Geri PACT clinic - Geri Assessment Clinic - Goals of Care Clinic and Outpatient and Inpatient Palliative services - etc.) as assigned. The physician will have an academic appointment at the University of Utah.

Summary

The Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Physician is a physician responsible for carrying out operations of the Primary Care Service to provide high-quality patient-centered care to Veterans under the different clinics and programs (e.g. Home Based Primary Care - Geri PACT clinic - Geri Assessment Clinic - Goals of Care Clinic and Outpatient and Inpatient Palliative services - etc.) as assigned. The physician will have an academic appointment at the University of Utah.

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
• Additional Requirement: Board Certified Preferred Experience: Palliative and/or Hospice Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• The physical requirements of this position include occasional lifting - prolonged standing and standing and sitting - frequent bending - walking - climbing - reaching (overhead - extensive/repetitive) - repetitive motion - and stooping
• The mental/sensory requirements include recall - reasoning - problem-solving - hearing - speaking clearly - writing legibly - reading - and logical thinking
• The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities - frequent - sometimes intense customer interactions - and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment
• There may be a need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease - illness - and hazardous materials.

Duties

• Administrative Duties: Participate in staff meetings
• communicate administrative and medical issues or concerns to the service medical director or Section Chief
• Arrange coverage and communicate the plan of coverage to the team members - medical director or Section Chief when taking leave of absence
• Ensure compliance with the leave and attendance requirements Serve as back up for the other palliative care providers - as needed
• Participate in chart review and other process improvement initiatives
• Complete training requirements - employee health requirements and Environmental and Occupational Committee requirements
• Respond to critical lab/diagnostic test result notifications in a timely manner
• Ensure all required encounters are closed and notes completed within the required timeframe
• Respond to consults and complete documentation requirements in CPRS in a timely manner including cosigning of students/fellows/resident' notes documentation
• Other duties as assigned Clinical Duties: Provide clinical input and oversight for Patient's treatment plans
• Be readily available to the team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise
• Assure that care is provided in a manner - which is in accordance with accepted practices and is evidence based.Assure that care is provided in a timely manner and in an appropriate setting
• Complete documentation of patients visits with appropriate encounters in CPRS within the required timeframe
• Facilitate appropriate consultation and implementation of consultant recommendations
• Address issues related to infection control including skin testing - immunization and infection prevention
• Provide cross coverage to the different clinical services within the approved and recommended privileges by the Professional Standards Board
• Assure appropriate oversight of delegated care activities of Nurse Practitioners - Physician Assistant - Pharm D's and others practicing with a "scope of practice"
• The Physician is expected to remain privileged and practicing in his/her specialty field
• The Professional Standards Board will approve the exact privileges and procedures for a provider
• All Physicians must meet the following qualifications
• Patient Care: expected to provide patient care that is compassionate - appropriate - patient centered and effective for the promotion of health - prevention of illness - treatment of disease and end of like care
• Medical/Clinical Knowledge: expected to demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical - clinical and social sciences and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others
• To ensure practice: based learning and improvement - practitioners are expected to be able to use scientific evidence and methods to investigate evaluate and improve patient care
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain profession relationships with patients - families - and other members of the Health Care Team
• Professionalism: expected to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development - ethical practice - and understand and sensitivity to diversity - and a responsible attitude towards their patients -their profession
• System-Based Practice: expected to demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided - and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care
• The physician is expected to maintain an academic appointment at the University of Utah School of Medicine
• Help the Medical Directors carry out Education activities related to UME/GME
• S/he ensures orientation to service rotation for program trainees (resident - students) - if any
• Show effectiveness in teaching - monitor and coordinate educational activities - and comply with necessary trainee supervision
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm 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