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) & 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 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 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - 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
• 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 or fee-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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board certified or board eligible in rheumatology 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
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment - you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until March 17th - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 31st - 2024 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Schedule will be coordinated by supervisor
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV - 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 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 incumbent will be responsible for the assessment and care of new and returning patients with any number of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders
• (e.g inflammatory arthritic disorders - osteoarthritis - vasculitis - systemic lupus and similar inflammatory/fibrotic connective tissue disorders - bursal and soft tissue rheumatic disorders - inflammatory muscle diseases)
• The incumbent is responsible for ordering diagnostics - consultations - medications and other therapies as medically indicated
• The incumbent will be responsible for completing all required VA electronic documentation and appropriate correspondence with referring providers and VA multidisciplinary teams in a timely manner
• The incumbent will be primarily based at Palo Alto - but will also be responsible for remotely supervising the RNP for Rheumatology Clinic patients as needed at the Livermore Division - and providing inbox coverage for LVD RNP when needed
• The incumbent will also be responsible for triaging LVD consult requests to determine if appropriate to be seen at PAD or by LVD RNP
• Major duties include but are not limited to: Provides timely evaluation - treatment - and follow-up of new and return Rheumatology Clinic outpatients - and evaluation and follow-up of inpatient Rheumatology consultation patients when assigned to the inpatient consulting service at Palo Alto
• Performs diagnostic and/or therapeutic joint aspiration and injection procedures as medically indicated
• Provides teaching and supervision of residents - fellows - and medical students who are assigned to the VA Rheumatology rotation
• Oversees the musculoskeletal ultrasound program at PAD and provides evaluation - treatments/procedures - and follow-up for patients in the MSK Ultrasound Clinic
• Triages and manages all MSK ultrasound referrals and follow-up requests
• Provides care for Rheumatology patients via video/VVC and Telehealth Provides supervision and consultative assistance to the Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner based in Modesto/Livermore Provides triage and screening of Rheumatology consultation requests on a rotating basis with other Rheumatology section medical staff for PAD consult requests
• Triages all Rheumatology consult requests for LVD and Ultrasound clinics
• Participates in appropriate Rheumatology section research and quality improvement projects under direction of the Section Chief
• Assists with peer review evaluations as needed under the direction of the Section Chief.