Physician - Pulmonologist - Critical Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Temple (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual performance bonus

Generous paid time off

Federal health insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Temple, Texas is seeking a Physician for the Pulmonary section. You will manage veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings, providing critical care in the ICU as well as outpatient clinics.

Applicants should have a Doctor of Medicine degree, complete residency training, and possess proficiency in pulmonary and critical care medicine procedures. An annual performance bonus and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the U.S.
• Completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• Fellowship training preferred in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for veterans with pulmonary conditions in ICU.
• Supervise health care trainees including medical students and residents.
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to pulmonary care.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Pulmonary medicine procedures

Critical care medicine procedures

Education

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree

Completed residency training in accredited specialty

Job description

Summary

The Physician is assigned to the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System Pulmonary section. The physician will be on a rotating schedule covering a variety of clinical services including intensive care unit (ICU), inpatient pulmonary consultation service, outpatient pulmonary clinic, and outpatient sleep clinic. Schedule assignments will be based on the needs of the pulmonary section.

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. HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

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
• 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: Fellowship training and Board Certified/Eligible in Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship training and Board Certified/Eligible in Critical care Medicine Proficiency in pulmonary and critical Care procedures Experience or strong interest in outpatient pulmonary clinic Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Use of fingers
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted).

Responsibilities

• The physician is responsible for providing care for veterans admitted to the ICU or hospital with acute respiratory failure, acute severe COPD exacerbations, severe asthma exacerbation, pneumonia, ARDS, and septic shock and other life‑threatening pulmonary conditions.
• The physician is responsible for providing care to outpatient veterans with COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, hypoxic and/or hypercapnic respiratory failure, pleural effusions, pulmonary nodules, and other pulmonary conditions in addition to sleep apnea.
• The physician will supervise health care trainees including medical students, interns, residents, and fellows.
• Providing care to veterans admitted to the intensive care unit.
• Providing pulmonary consultations to inpatient veterans.
• Providing care to veterans in the pulmonary and sleep clinics.
• Perform diagnostic bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound.
• Perform central venous catheter and arterial line placement.
• Perform endotracheal intubation in addition to non‑invasive and invasive ventilator management.
• Perform thoracentesis, thoracostomy tube placement, and tunneled pleural catheter placement.
• Perform interpretation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs), arterial blood gas (ABG), and ambulatory pulse oximetry studies.
• Perform interpretation of home sleep studies and overnight oximetry studies.

Benefits and Compensation

• 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, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm plus rotating calls and weekends.