The James J. Peters VA Medical Center is seeking a Hospice and Palliative Care Physician to be an integral part of the H&PC Program at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician position is housed in the Geriatric, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) of the James J. Peters VA. The program includes an inpatient consultation service, outpatient clinic, and hospice beds (Supportive Care Unit) in the James J. Peters Community Living Center (CLC).
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: Palliative Medicine Board eligible. Geriatric experience is a plus, but not required. Research background is not required, but support for research will be available if desired. The physician must have demonstrated ability to work effectively with various disciplines responsible for patient care services and possess excellent communication skills. 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
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 The H&PC Physician will work closely with the Palliative Care Team, which consists of the Palliative Care Medical Director, a part-time H&PC physician, and a dedicated social worker. A full-time H&PC Nurse Practitioner and CLC Chaplain are also active members of the H&PC team. The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will share in the care of patients in all sites, ensuring high quality practices in the treatment of symptoms of patients with serious illness or at the end of life through the coordination and integration of various nursing, medical and complementary interventions. The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will assist the Nurse Practitioner, when hired, with the care of the patients in the CLC Supportive Care Unit. The James J. Peters VA is also a clinical teaching site for the Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Program of the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. As a teaching site, we provide a 4-week clinical experience for the H&PC fellows from Mount Sinai, with an emphasis on the long-term care setting. The H&PC Program also provides educational and clinical experiences for other trainees, including pharmacy residents, dieticians, nurse practitioners, social workers and medical residents. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Answer new inpatient palliative care consults and follow up the Veteran during his/her inpatient stay to provide recommendations for symptom management, emotional support, assistance with clarifying goals of care and discharge planning. Assist in the outpatient palliative care clinic to answer outpatient consults and help co-manage Veterans with serious illness in need of palliative care support, follow patients longitudinally in the out-patient setting as needed, and facilitate home hospice referrals as needed. Outpatient consults will include VA Video Connect (VVC) telephone, electronic, and Home-Based Primary Care Palliative Care (HBPC) consults. Provide evidence-based care to the patients in the Supportive Care Unit and promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making and evaluating outcomes. Work on growing the palliative care team's reach by supporting efforts to work with outpatient primary care providers and subspecialists to identify patients at risk for life-limiting illnesses, establish goals of care for these patients, and refer patients for a Palliative Care consultation if indicated. Participate in regular interdisciplinary palliative care team huddles and meetings. Participate as a member of the Community Living Center (CLC) Admissions committee, providing feedback relevant to the Hospice and Palliative care needs of patients referred to the CLC Hospice Unit. Actively participate and contribute to the educational mission of the VA engaging with trainees through clinical precepting or teaching conferences. Exercise corporate citizenship by serving as a leader and/or active member on assigned committees. Document in a timely manner in all areas and in accordance with facility policy. Additionally, the Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will: Keep the team appraised of palliative care advances and practice standards. Provide on-call, off tour coverage on a rotational basis with other clinicians in the program. Call will mostly be telephone coverage, but some on-site weekend coverage may be necessary. Arrange coverage in his/her absence, communicate plan of coverage to colleagues and participate in reciprocal coverage as needed/required. Work Schedule: M-F Day tour, with some weekend coverage for patients in both the community living centers and acute care beds.