The Endocrine Physician will provide specialty endocrine care in accordance with approved scope of practice and all applicable state and/or Federal guidelines in support of the medicine and endocrinology services. Will assess, plan, implement, and collaborate on the health care needs of both outpatients and inpatients with acute and/or chronic endocrine related conditions. 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: 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: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible. 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 Provide patient and family teaching, consult and collaborate with primary care and other specialty health care providers, prescribe medications and refer patients to other services as needed. Perform endocrine-related diagnostic procedures such as diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided thyroid fine needle biopsy in accordance with training, qualifications, and approved scope of practice. Duties include but not limited to the following: Assesses urgency of patient care needs based on sound clinical principals during face- to-face encounters, and electronic and telephone triage. Assumes accountability for coordination of patient care in endocrinology and well as telephone care needs during clinic administrative hours and during on-call rotations for inpatient care. Triages endocrine consultation requests and follows up with administrative assistants to track timely scheduling and completion of endocrine consultation appointments. Plans, evaluates, and implements care for the needs of patients with acute and/or chronic endocrine disease in ambulatory care and inpatient settings. Performs and reports consultations for potential endocrine related problems. This includes screening of and responding to eConsultations per schedule assigned by the Chief of the Endocrine Division. Provides patient support and education during outpatient clinic visits and procedures and treatments. Performs appropriate endocrine- focused physical examination based on age and history. Demonstrates expertise in documenting and assessing endocrine related diseases and formulates the appropriate differential diagnosis based on the history, physical examination, and clinical findings. Pursues definitive diagnosis via ordering and expert interpretation of results of diagnostic studies including laboratory tests, ultrasound, nuclear scans, and x-rays. Demonstrates expertise in assessing and documenting effectiveness of endocrine therapies and adjusting regimens to improve outcomes. Learns endocrine ultrasound technique and applies appropriately to medical cases. Diagnoses and formulates approach to endocrine associated pain, especially as related to diabetic neuropathy. Assesses pain management effectiveness, including appropriate attention to the patient's perception and adjusts regimens to improve outcomes. Identifies appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacological interventions for endocrine conditions, Prescribes appropriate non-pharmacologic interventions such as nutrition and exercise. Is familiar with therapeutic and adverse effects, and prescribes appropriate doses of, pharmacological agents for treatment of endocrine conditions, including insulins, thyroid hormones, bisphosphonates, and others. Is familiar with devices for state-of-the-art management of diabetes including insulin pumps, constant glucose monitors, and pen injectors; appropriately prescribes such devices, evaluates and manages patients based on analysis of device data, and can troubleshoot problems arising from utilization of these devices. Initiates and refills prescriptions for all medications including Class II controlled substances and narcotics. Makes appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community agencies as appropriate and collaborates with other health care providers. Prescribes over the counter drugs such as vitamins and supplements as needed and Educates patient and family regarding patient's endocrine condition. Initiates consults to other services for care as warranted. Identifies medical and health risks and needs of individual patients and participates in quality assessment and management related to endocrine disease. Stays up to date on endocrine diagnosis, therapy, and scientific advances by regular reading of relevant textbook, journal articles, attendance at seminars and symposia, and CME courses."]
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.
