The Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS) is recruiting a full-time Physician Hospice and Palliative Care provider to join a dynamic team of dedicated providers and ancillary staff.
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: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires: light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.); light carrying (15 lbs. and under); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); kneeling (up to 1 hour); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; mental stability; working closely with others; and working alone.
The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will work closely with the Palliative Care Consultant team. They 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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved 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 Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will assist with the care of the patients in the CLC Hospice and Palliative Care Unit, the Acute Care Consultation Service and the Palliative Medicine Outpatient Clinic. The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will also work with several chronic disease clinics including those with a focus on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Dementia, Chronic Lung/Heart Disease Cancer. The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System is also a clinical teaching site for the Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Program, Geriatrics Fellowship Program, Geriatric Psychiatry Program, Internal Medicine Program and Psychiatry Program of the University of Arizona in addition to providing mentorship to medical students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. The H&PC Program also provides educational and clinical experiences for other trainees, including pharmacy residents, dieticians, nurse practitioners, and social workers. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Answer new inpatient palliative care consults and follow up the Veteran during their inpatient stay to provide recommendations for symptom management, emotional support, assistance with clarifying goals of care and discharge planning. Answer new outpatient palliative care 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 in person, VA Video Connect (VVC) and telephonic visits. Provide evidence-based care to the patients in the Hospice and Palliative 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 and Palliative Care 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: Arrange coverage in his/her absence, communicate plan of coverage to colleagues and participate in reciprocal coverage as needed/required. Perform additional duties as assigned Facilitate Hospice and Palliative Care education to staff Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.