Physician - Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorders - Physical Medicine and & Rehab

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP Authorized

Education Debt Reduction Program

Sign-on Bonus

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) is recruiting physicians to join the SCI/D section, supporting spinal cord injury and disorders care in Aurora, Colorado. The staff physician will provide clinical coverage, lead SCI/D teams, and collaborate across rehabilitation services within a comprehensive VA setting.

This open continuous announcement supports a balanced work-life schedule with VA Total Rewards, EDRP eligibility, sign-on incentives, and extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from an accredited school.
• Current full license to practice medicine in the United States or a territory.
• Board certification or eligibility in a core specialty.
• Eligibility to work as a physician within VA guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical coverage in SCI/D inpatient unit.
• Lead SCI/D consultation teams and coordinate care.
• Collaborate with rehabilitation and PM&R teams.
• Participate in teaching and research activities as assigned.

Skills

SCI/D care

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Clinical excellence

Education

MD or DO degree

Board eligible or certified

Job description

Summary

The Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) is currently recruiting 3 Physicians to work within our SCI/D section to assist with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) in our Aurora Colorado facility. Recruitment Incentive Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized

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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• This is an open and continuous announcement which will remain open until vacancies are filled
• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as received
• Applications will remain on file until 30 September 2026
• Interested in a career that offers a true work-life balance? Look no further! The VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) offers a balance of professional and clinical complexity that stimulates growth yet also allows the professional an opportunity to enjoy life outside of work VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• 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
• 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 The staff physiatrist will be responsible for: Providing Clinical coverage: a
• Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury unit providing specialty care for acute inpatient rehabilitation - subacute rehabilitation - sustaining care - respite and occasionally hospice b
• SCI/D Consult Team reviewing: i
• Internal medical center consults ii
• Consults from spokes and other VA SCI/D care networks iii
• External community referrals c
• SCI/D specialty clinics
• d
• There are expected regular call responsibilities for evenings and weekends in collaboration with the PMRS team
• e
• Collaborative secondary coverage of PMRS Showing mastery of SCI/D skills including: Assessing and prescribing treatment for inpatients and outpatients referred by consultations
• Providing or organizing specialty procedures such as chemodenervation injections for spasticity
• Leading an interdisciplinary team
• Developing ongoing relationships with other medical sub-specialties in the treatment of complicated SCI/D patients
• Coordinating recommendations for medical equipment Participating in strategic planning - resource utilization management discussion - and interfacing with Veteran service organizations and stakeholders Participating in education Resident education Staff education Education to hospital departments and staff Performance improvement activities along with the program development and modification to continually improve patient care
• The staff physiatrist will work with patients - families and rehabilitation team members and other providers including: Rehabilitation nurses Physical Therapists Occupational Therapists Speech and Language Pathologists Recreational Therapists Prosthetists/Orthotists Social workers Psychologists Audiologists Optometrists Physicians - PAs - and NPs The staff physiatrist is expected to have an academic appointment within the University of Colorado Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• They are responsible for the teaching of residents and are responsible for oversight of the care provided residents
• The staff physiatrist will participate in the administration of programs - program development - performance improvement - committees - and other staff functions as delegated by the SCI/D service Chief
• The staff physician will be willing to serve as the "physician delegate" of the Chef of the SCI/D Service
• If the staff physiatrist holds an appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and comply with the rules and regulations related to said appointment
• The provider should expect to participate in faculty committees and medical student/residency training
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8am to 430pm