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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. Additional Requirement: Preferred Experience: Successful completion of an ACGME or AOA accredited residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with board eligibility/certification by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Subspecialty eligibility/certification in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, light lifting, under 15 pounds, light carrying, under 15 pounds, use of fingers, walking, standing, both legs required, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of color. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside and working closely with others. ["Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Ms. Demetrius Roberts, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance at Demetrius.Roberts@VA.gov. Learn more 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 Michael E Debakey VA Hospital is looking for a full-time Physician to provide care to Veterans in the Spinal Cord Injury Care Line. Incumbent is fully trained practitioner in this field could perform including management of uncomplicated medical conditions outside their specialty: Preferred candidate: SCIM Board Certified Greater than 5 years of SCI clinical experience Academic affiliation with scholarly activities (education and/or clinical research) Quality improvement participation Clinical leadership experience and/or strong interest in mentorship Duties - Assess/Evaluate adult patients in inpatient and outpatient settings including Telehealth modality - Perform History & Physical exam - Perform SCI/Rehab consultations including prescription of orthotics, prosthetics, wheelchairs, adaptive equipment, and exoskeleton devices - Request consultations from other VA services and make referrals to Non-VA care - Order and interpret routine diagnostic tests - Establish diagnoses - Plan, coordinate, and execute treatment plan - Authority to admit to SCI service - Provide health maintenance and preventative care - Provide patient education - Provide trainee supervision and education - Examples of Spinal Cord Injury Core procedures include: Application of orthotics and prosthetics; Autonomic Dysreflexia management; Gastric intubation; Incision and drainage (I&D) of simple cutaneous abscess or decubitus ulcer; Joint (knee, elbow) aspiration; Placement of peripheral venous catheters; Suprapubic catheter; Suture of simple laceration and suture removal; Therapeutic interventions using Diathermy, Electric stimulation, Hydrotherapy, etc.; Tracheostomy change (uncomplicated); Urethral/Bladder catheterization; Urodynamics study and interpretation; Venipuncture; Ventilator assessment and management in stable chronic ventilator-dependent patients in non-ICU settings Special Procedures for SPINAL CORD INJURY: - Special Procedures are those that are more complex than the routine Core procedures and thus require evidence of supervised training, competence, and specific criteria (if any). Settings are presumed to be any appropriate area of the MEDVAMC main facility, but if limitation to certain areas is appropriate, then that setting restriction would be so noted in the \"Restrict Setting\" column (eg Operating Room (OR), Special Procedure Room (SPR), etc.). Procedures include intrathecal pump management and neurolytic injections (botulinum toxin and alcohol neurolysis to treat spasticity. Medications/Prescriptive Authority: The VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management and the MEDVAMC Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee in conjunction with the Clinical Executive Board have imposed administrative restrictions on some medications (eg Formulary Restricted Drug List) by requiring administrative prescription approval prior to dispensing. This type of restriction is not based on an individual competency assessment and therefore is not a clinical privileging issue. Full privileges to prescribe/order medications (including controlled substances for which DEA registration is required). Modalities: The use of some special equipment is considered a modality and not a privilege. These modalities (eg Moderate Sedation, Fluoroscopy, Robotic-assistance, etc.) can be used with any appropriate procedure for which the practitioner possesses clinical privileges. There may be additional requirements for the use of these modalities which if not met will prevent the use of the modality which may then prevent performance of a procedure if that modality is required. Telehealth modality is included in the Core privileges."]

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