Nephrologist

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Responsibilities

• Provides expert consultation and ongoing management for patients with acute and chronic kidney disease, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, hypertension, and related conditions in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Staffs outpatient nephrology consult and follow-up clinics, both in-person and via virtual modalities, and provides inpatient consultation to acute medical and intensive care units.
• Performs consultative evaluations and treatments for patients referred from hospital services and affiliated VA outpatient clinics, including dialysis clinic care consistent with local credentialing and privileging.
• Documents accurate, complete, and timely progress notes and orders in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) for each episode of care.
• Maintains proper use, maintenance, and calibration of specialized nephrology equipment, including dialysis-related and monitoring devices, in accordance with safety and infection control standards.
• Adheres to safety, health, infection control, and ergonomic regulations; promptly reports unsafe conditions to appropriate officials.
• Provides patient and family education, including informed consent, and supports shared decision-making.
• Assists with orientation of new staff and provides clinical teaching and supervision for nephrology fellows (if applicable), residents, and medical students on nephrology rotations.
• Maintains supplies, equipment, and clinical areas to optimize safety, efficiency, and readiness.
• Demonstrates knowledge and correct reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with VA policy.
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives, quality and safety reviews, disaster preparedness activities, and other administrative duties as assigned by the Section Chief and Chief of Medicine Service.

Requirements

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

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.

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

Schedule

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Benefits

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available to highly qualified candidates
Relocation Incentive: Available to eligible candidates. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
Contact the EDRP Coordinator, Cheryl Lahair, at cheryl.lahair@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more.