Summary

Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RHJ VAMC) in Charleston - SC seeks to recruit an Assistant Chief of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. The physician chosen will play an integral role in the management - growth - and future direction of the Section of Gastroenterology/ Hepatology at our 1A VAMC facility. This leader will build on the existing strengths and commitment to service excellence - and high quality Veteran care.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Gastroenterology experienced required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• Located in historic downtown Charleston - SC - the Ralph H
• Johnson VA Medical Center is a tertiary care teaching hospital providing the highest-level quality for more than 75 -000 Veterans along the South Carolina and Georgia coast
• The Ralph H
• Johnson VA is rated is the second fastest growing VA in the U.S. for percentage patient growth
• The 152-bed hospital includes six outpatient clinics - women's health - and the full range of inpatient and outpatient care including Medical and Surgical Intensive Care
• The VAMC provides more than 934 -000 outpatient visits and approximately 4 -300 inpatient stays annually
• The VAMC has an annual budget of $525 million and research funding of more than $28 million
• For more information - visit www.charleston.va.gov
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• This position is eligible for 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 your start date
• 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
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions/assistance 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 Medicine Service Supervisory Providers - Duties include but are not limited to the following: Performs and records history and physical examinations and records data from clinic visits
• Evaluates - consults - develops diagnosis - and manages the Veteran
• Enters progress notes in computerized medical record and completes workload documentation in a timely manner
• Provides medical care encompassing acute and chronic medical conditions and all appropriate preventive care for both male and female veterans
• Orders diagnostic tests - medications - laboratory tests as medically relevant for each patient
• Provides timely follow-up on results and patient inquiries - including and not limited to completion of view alerts - secure messages and other patient communications
• Determines medical assessment and develops treatment plans according to accepted protocols
• Prescribes medications according to approved formulary - and in accordance with Federal and State Law
• Educates patients concerning medical conditions and recommended treatments
• (Specific topics include but are not limited to nutritional counseling - need for smoking cessation - need for periodic immunizations and health screening tests - acute and chronic disease management and other preventive health measures)
• Consults other specialties as appropriate - according to service agreements
• As chief/assistant chief - will supervise other employees within the section and perform duties including performance appraisals - proficiencies - and other supervisory functions
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
• Schedule subject to change based on agency needs.