Physician, Supervisory Musculoskeletal with EDRP

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with annual performance bonus

50-55 days of paid time off annually

Health, vision, dental insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Supervisory Musculoskeletal Physician in San Antonio, Texas. This role focuses on providing high-quality care and education to Veterans with musculoskeletal conditions, coordinating with multiple specialties, and leading a dynamic clinic environment.

Ideal candidates should hold a degree of doctor of medicine, possess a full unrestricted license, and have experience in high-volume outpatient clinics. This position offers competitive pay, extensive paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency training completed in an accredited program.
• Experience in interdisciplinary clinic or program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate care across multiple specialties.
• Provides high-quality education and patient care.
• Mentor PM&R and orthopedic residents.
• Participate in acute inpatient rehabilitation call coverage.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Board certified in PM&R

Experience in musculoskeletal outpatient practice

Ultrasound-guided injections experience

Education

Degree of doctor of medicine or equivalent

Full unrestricted license to practice medicine

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) 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 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 physicians 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 certified in PM&R
• Subspecialty certification or fellowship completion in sports or spine medicine
• 1 year of prior experience in a fast-paced - high-volume musculoskeletal outpatient practice model
• 1 year of prior supervisory experience
• Prior experience in interdisciplinary clinic or program development and management
• 1 full year of experience performing ultrasound-guided injections and platelet-rich plasma therapy as an attending physician
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required - depending on the needs of the organization.

Duties

• We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly organized physician leader to serve as the Supervisory Musculoskeletal Physician for PM&R - an exciting central role that connects and coordinates care across multiple specialties including therapy services, orthopedic surgery, PM&R, medical residency programs, and comprehensive pain management
• Provides high-quality patient care and education using a consultative/triage-focused model - primarily serving Veterans with isolated musculoskeletal complaints and providing in-clinic injections to include corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, and platelet-rich plasma under ultrasound guidance
• Continue collaboration with specialty programs for more complex cases: outpatient polytrauma for MSK issues with neurologic comorbidities; comprehensive pain clinic for non-operative patients requiring long-term pain management; supervise and mentor both PM&R and orthopedic residents in a dynamic team-oriented clinic environment
• Work alongside therapy staff who are immediately available to support flexible scheduling - rapid coordination - and efficient patient flow
• Participate in acute inpatient rehabilitation call coverage for our 12-bed inpatient unit (approximately 4-5 weeks per year - evenly distributed across faculty)
• Administrative Duties: Leadership of interdisciplinary team activities; reviews orthopedic surgery and/or PM&R consults for medical appropriateness; participates in peer reviews; maintains medical licensing and board certification requirements; obtains resident supervisory privileges through medical school affiliate
• Supervision of IPU-assigned Physical and Occupational Therapy staff in collaboration with the Outpatient Therapy Supervisor - PM&R
• Customer service: includes responding to service concerns, completing Patient Advocate, White House or Congressional complaints
• Clinical Duties: responds to and completes consults received for the evaluation of PM&R including: performs a comprehensive, detailed, targeted initial history and physical examination in compliance with national guidelines
• Utilizes diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound as necessary to refine differential diagnosis and treatment plan
• Orders diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, X-rays, electromyography (EMG), electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other tests as approved by the supervising PM&R Physician
• Consults other disciplines - as necessary - to complete the patient examination (occupational therapy, physical therapy, neuropsychological testing, audiology and speech language pathology testing, vision testing, dental evaluation, psychosocial evaluation, etc)
• Carries out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making
• Writes Medical Orders and prescriptions for non-controlled substances as necessary for the care of the patient in accordance with Federal and State law and approval of the supervising PM&R Physician
• Evaluation and treatment of clinical conditions associated with the musculoskeletal system - including specialty care
• Performs corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma injections and other clinic-based procedures as indicated
• Call coverage of inpatient rehabilitation unit
• Documents care provided in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) in accordance with STVHCS requirements
• Documents the detailed initial history and physical examination required for evaluation in the electronic tool(s) required by VA
• Provides education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs
• Non-routine duties: May be assigned by the Outpatient PM&R Section Chief
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm

Benefits

• Pay: Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and 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% contributions by VA Insurance
• Health, vision, dental, term life, long-term care insurance (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
• CME reimbursement: 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