Physician - Radiologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on Bonus

Paid Time Off: 50–55 days per year

Retirement benefits and federal pension

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia, SC, is seeking a physician to perform various diagnostic imaging services and ensure high-quality care. Candidates must have a Doctor of Medicine degree and hold a current medical license.

Responsibilities include performing radiological examinations, maintaining patient records, and communicating results effectively. The position offers competitive salary, recruitment incentives, paid time off, and support for student loan repayment.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from an approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery.
• Completion of residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range of diagnostic fluoroscopies.
• Communicate results to ordering providers.
• Maintain quality of diagnostic examinations.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Experience as a general radiologist

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or equivalent

Tools

PACS

Voice dictation

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for 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) and 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 are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements 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
• 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 toward this requirement)
• 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
• Their scope of practice 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: 1 year of experience as a general radiologist
• 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

• Expected to perform a wide range of diagnostic fluoroscopies – radiography – sonography – CT – MRI – nuclear medicine – mammography – DX
• Additional services may include assisting or performing imaging‑guided interventional procedures
• Must participate in all general radiology examinations
• Perform consultations with other clinical staff
• Communicate results to ordering providers
• Assess technical quality of exams and give resultant feedback to technologists
• Direct all supporting employees during the performance of these procedures
• Fully responsible for the quality and timeliness of reports for the procedures interpreted or performed
• Performs a wide range of diagnostic interpretations of the studies produced by the Imaging Section
• Workload is generated by requests for interpretation submitted by the Medical Staff and its CBOCs
• Maintains full responsibility for the quality of the diagnostic examinations performed by the Imaging Section
• Authorized user for nuclear medicine
• Perform administrative duties which include maintaining statistical records of workload – participating on assigned clinical staff boards, meetings, and committees – participating in medical education programs for medical trainees – as well as participating in the Department's Quality Assurance Program
• Perform non‑interpretative functions – such as protocoling of diagnostic radiology imaging studies – informed consents – patient assessments as necessary – chart review/documentation – peer review – presenting at multidisciplinary conferences and presenting at interdepartmental conferences
• Participation in call required
• Adherence to Tour of Duty hours and backup call assignments
• Adhere to VHA and department policy, procedures, and practice
• Maintain CME for licensure
• Complete all educational assignments and trainings in a timely manner
• Physician productivity: Monitoring the productivity of imaging physicians to ensure the average workload of the service meets VHA defined benchmarks – and developing corrective plans if it does not
• See Productivity and Staffing Guidance for Imaging Physicians Directive 2008‑09
• Proficiently utilize PACS and voice dictation to ensure timely and consistent imaging reporting and record keeping
• Provides accurate, concise, timely documentation of care in the electronic medical record (Computerized Patient Record System – CPRS) on each patient care occurrence
• Verification of reports must be completed – in accordance with established metrics
• Be proficient with digital imaging technology – PACS and voice dictation
• Work schedule: Monday – Friday 12:00 am – 8:00 am
• Subject to change based on needs of the facility

Benefits & Compensation

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): May be authorized to a highly qualified candidate
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized – Learn more
• 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 401(k) 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