This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. 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 complete review of the EDRP application. 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. Preferred Experience: Board certified or board eligible with additional fellowship training in one of the subspecialties areas of neurology. Preference will be given to those with additional fellowship training in one of the subspecialty areas. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires a pre-employment physical. 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. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Far visions correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted. ["The VA Health Care System, Marion, Illinois is conveniently located at the intersection of Interstate 57 and State Route 13 in beautiful Southern Illinois. Visitors to Marion have a wide variety of activities and events to choose from including the theater, sporting events, wineries, golf courses, lakes, and nature trails. Marion has a special beauty that is complimented by its hometown atmosphere. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Repayment of qualified study loans over a 5-year period, up to $200,000. EDRP Authorized: Contact Audrey West, the EDRP Coordinator at Audrey.West@va.gov for questions/assistance. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Physicians appointed to the Medical Staff of the Marion VA Healthcare System and assigned to the Specialty Care Section of the Medicine Service will function as independent licensed practitioners. Clinical Duties: In the Specialty Care Section, neurologists will spend most of their patient care time in the outpatient setting. The neurologist evaluates new patients by performing his/her own comprehensive history, physical examination, and record review, and he/she formulates a diagnostic and management plan. Follow up of established patients will occur at the direction and discretion of the neurologist. The neurologist may release patients back to the management of their primary care provider when the disease process has stabilized, and specialty follow up is no longer required. The neurologist will serve as a consultant for the hospitalist service, during normal business hours, on a relatively small inpatient unit. The neurologist will be responsible for EEG interpretation and report generation. In addition, the neurologist may perform procedures such as Botox injections for spasticity or migraine, lumbar punctures, EMG/NCS, and others based on the physician's training and expertise and the needs of the facility. Administrative Duties: 1. Leadership responsibilities: participation in staff meetings, hospital committees, and peer review process. Demonstrate effective communication both down to staff and up to leadership, to include heads up (for unanticipated or less than ideal patient outcomes), and occasionally acting as Section Chief when the Section Chief is on leave. 2. Human Resources (HR)/Credentialing: Maintaining VA training requirements, timely completion of documentation and upkeep of credentials required for privileging and re-privileging as per medical staff by-laws. Participation in the FPPE/OPPE process. 3. Time/Leave Management: Adherence to tour of duties, timely requests for leave in current time management system and for clinic cancellations. 4. Medical Record/Clinical Management: Timely completion of consults, notes, encounters. Adherence to CPRS documentation rules and requirements. Adherence to clinic, and OR, procedures for patient scheduling and access. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.