Physician - Emergency Medicine

Summary

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.

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.

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

Preferred Experience

• Board certification or eligibility in emergency medicine preferred - current employment in emergency medicine

Physical Requirements

• This position requires a pre-employment physical
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• Pushing (approx 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Using fingers and both hands
• Walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted

Duties

• Perform a medical screening examination to determine the presence of an emergency medical condition - treating and stabilizing all patients who come to the emergency department consistent with EMTALA/COBRA requirements
• Order - interpret - and apply diagnostic laboratory and imaging results into real-time clinical decision-making necessary to complete the ED evaluation
• Prescribe and administer therapeutics - devices - and procedures within licensure and privileging
• Provide resuscitation and life-saving interventions to stabilize critically ill or injured patients
• Determine patient disposition efficiently and safely - including admission - transfer - referral to specialty clinics - or discharge with appropriate follow up and return instructions
• Cook up care and consult specialty services when an acute condition needs higher-level evaluation or co-management - with timely escalation per on call expectations
• Provide clear communication of the diagnosis - results - and treatment plan to the patient and/or family/caregiver - following applicable EMTALA/COBRA screening and stabilization principles before transfer
• Document all encounters contemporaneously in EDIS and the VA electronic health record (CPRS) per policy - ensuring accurate - complete - and legible records
• Perform ED procedures as privileged - including but not limited to: basic and advanced airway management - rapid sequence intubation - mechanical ventilation management in conjunction with a respiratory therapist - moderate sedation - EKG interpretation - CPR - cardioversion/defibrillation - central venous access - intraosseous access - NGT placement - gastric lavage - emergency cricothyrotomy /tracheostomy - non-elective chest tube placement - immobilization and / or reduction of fractures - reduction and or stabilization of dislocations - laceration repair - abscess I&D - measuring intra-ocular pressure using a tonopen - anterior /posterior nasal packing - pelvic examination - and urinary catheterization
• Promote continuity of care through direct SBAR communication with inpatient teams - consultants - EMS - nursing - and other interprofessional staff to ensure safe handoffs and transitions
• Support Quality Assurance - peer review - chart review - performance improvement - and committee worksupport ED performance measures and process optimization
• Safety - occupational health - infection control - and fire protection programs by applying approved standards - regulations - and work methods
• Complete accurate - timely documentation for all encounters in EDIS/CPRSensure coding and clinical narratives meet policy standards
• Perform medication reconciliation for all patients at disposition to prevent adverse events and ensure continuity
• Disposition patients in a timely - organized manner to reduce ED length of stay while ensuring safety - completeness of evaluation - and appropriate follow-up instructions
• Escalate and collaborate to resolve barriers to admission - transfer - or specialty evaluation in accordance with policy
• Aid with pandemic - emergency - disaster - and mass casualty response planning and execution in coordination with facility incident command and EMS partners
• Participate in staff meetings - morbidity and mortality conferences - mandatory trainings - and peer review activities - with non-clinical on duty time allotted per local policy
• Work Schedule: Work variable 8-12-hour shifts including nights - weekends - holidays - and weekdays
• Participate with the ED on-call coverage schedule for unscheduled open shifts

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