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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• The New Jersey VA Healthcare System is seeking a Geriatrician for our Lyons - NJ location
• The Geriatrician/Geriatrics Physician is responsible for all aspects of primary geriatrics - palliative and nursing home care within the defined section - and clinical leadership of staff
• The Geriatrician has extensive expertise in the treatment of conditions occurring in older patients - including but not limited to (a) medical illnesses such as hypertension - diabetes - coronary artery disease - chronic renal insufficiency - lower urinary tract symptoms - osteoarthritis - and others;(b) geriatric syndromes that are often multifactorial in etiology such as cognitive impairment and dementia
• gait instability - urinary incontinence - functional decline - mood disorders - and polypharmacy
• Clinically responsible for: Manage a proportional panel of Geriatric primary care veterans and provide Comprehensive Geriatric Evaluation to our elderly veterans
• If coverage in Long Term care is needed - provides a full range of therapeutic interventions to units/programs in the Medical Center to which they are assigned and have clinical privileges to practice - including diagnostic assessment - medication evaluation and management
• Participates effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with Interdisciplinary Team Members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care
• Analyzes and synthesizes data from multiple sources to identify and monitor a health situation
• Applies knowledge of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics - and best practice standards in selecting - prescribing and monitoring drugs to treat conditions - diseases - disorders and injuries within scope of practice and clinical practice setting
• Communicates verbally and in writing - history - physical assessment findings - diagnosis - and treatment plan when indicated
• Communicates progress and treatment options with the veteran and other members of the team - when indicated
• Consults with other health care providers in an appropriate and timely manner
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team (IDT) - referral sources - and all stakeholders
• Provides effective collaboration and leadership to interdisciplinary teams and administrative staff
• Completes medical records and encounters timely and accurately
• Communicates with veterans - family members and treatment teams - including community partners
• Responsible for teaching and supervising fellows - residents - medical students - and other allied health trainees in clinical settings
• Supports the primary responsibility of Geriatrics clinical activities which is to apply new knowledge and ideas - evaluate their usefulness in a patient care setting - and demonstrate their practicality for exporting throughout the VA system
• Participates in other clinical activities as appropriate to the needs of the medical center and as compatible with the overall time demands of the position Ensures that the practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice guidelines - VISN standards - national statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - mandatory continuing education - and HIPPA policies
• Specific tasks are itemized in each physician's Credentialing and Privileging package
• Involved in performance improvement and quality assurance initiatives
• The above details - procedures and responsibilities are required in Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Service
• However - the Geriatrician/Geriatrics Physician may cover additional sections within the service - as well as other Medical Center areas if needed - but within clinical privileges
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm