Summary

The South Texas VA Health Care System - San Antonio - Texas is currently seeking a full-time Physician (Deputy Chief of the Orthopedic Practice Unit/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). The Deputy Chief is responsible for patient care - patient/family education and supervision of the PM&RS staff and patient care.

Qualifications

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
• Education: 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
• Licensure and Registration: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR 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
• Physical Requirements: See outlined below
• English Language Proficiency
• Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified in PM&R
• Subspecialty certification or fellowship completion in sports or spine medicine
• 1 years experience in a fast-paced - high-volume musculoskeletal outpatient practice model
• 1 year prior supervisory experience
• Prior experience in interdisciplinary clinic or program development and management
• 1 full year experience performing ultrasound-guided injections and platelet-rich plasma therapy as an attending physician
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• Straight Pulling (2hrs)
• Pushing (4hrs)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (2hrs)
• Standing (2hrs)
• Kneeling (2hrs)
• Repeated bending (2hrs)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Both eyes required
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Depth perception
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Mental/emotional stability.

Duties

• The Deputy Chief will make contributions in PM&R medical care - education and research to be suitable for an academic appointment at the affiliated medical school and possess leadership skills in coordination of activities of various ancillary staff - house staff - therapists - other rehabilitation professionals - and students
• The Supervisory Physician - PM&R should have experience in managing and rehabilitating patients who have disorders of function across the spectrum of rehabilitation-related illnesses
• demonstrate knowledge of preventive medicine and primary care as related to PM&R (e.g
• complications of disorders & treatments - side effects of medications used) - the role of non-physician health care professionals and health care evaluation
• It is expected that he/she be a full-time employee - appointed on a career basis - with the expectation that tenure will span several years
• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Administrative: 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 (including but not limited to) IPU-assigned Physical and Occupational Therapy staff in collaboration with the Outpatient Therapy Supervisor - PM&RS Customer service: includes responding to service concerns - completing Patient Advocate - White House or Congressional complaints Clinical: 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
• e.g
• 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 South Texas Veterans Health Care System requirements
• Documents the detailed - targeted - 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
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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