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 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: Outpatient clinical gastroenterology focusing on standard complexity endoscopy procedures - including EGDs - colonoscopies - and sigmoidoscopies
• A combination of procedural and clinical experience is highly valued
• Additionally - experience in clinic-based hepatology and managing inflammatory bowel disease - including directing diagnosis and treatment through an infusion clinic - is also preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

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• Gastroenterology is the subspeciality of internal medicine that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and requires an extensive understanding of the entire gastrointestinal tract - including the esophagus - stomach - small intestine - liver - gall bladder - pancreas - colon - and rectum
• An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) is a procedure that combines the use of a flexible - lighted scope (endoscope) with X-ray pictures to examine the tubes that drain the liver - gallbladder and pancreas
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is a minimally invasive procedure to assess diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other nearby organs and tissues
• Participates as part of a team in evaluation of patients with liver disease for potential hepatic transplant and evaluation of potential liver donors
• Care and treatment of patients prior to and following hepatic transplantation that spans all phases of liver transplantation
• DUTIES: Duties may include but are not limited to the following: Perform history and physical examination Evaluate - diagnose - provide consultation - medically manage and provide treatment to patients presenting with diseases - disorders - or conditions of the gastrointestinal tract - including the esophagus - stomach - small intestine - liver - gall bladder - pancreas - colon - and rectum
• Privileges include medical management of general medical conditions which are encountered in the course of care for gastroenterology patients
• Admit to inpatient or appropriate level of care Colonoscopy - with or without biopsy
• polyp removal - any method
• and colonic dilation with or without stent placement Diagnostic proctosigmoidoscopy or sigmoidoscopy - including collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing Esophagoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy with or without biopsy - including hemostasis (injection - electrosurgical or ligation)
• esophageal or gastric varices sclerotherapy or banding
• and esophageal or pyloric dilation Use of energy sources (excluding lasers) during an endoscopic procedure namely ARGON gas Transplant Hepatology Privileges to include management of liver transplant patients or candidates for liver transplant Removal and replacement of G and G & J tubes from prior PEG placement Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 Telework Eligible: Adhoc