The VA Tele-Critical Care (TCC) program provides 24/7 remote Critical Care for nearly 80 VA ICUs and more than 1200 beds across the United States. TCC is staffed with a team of Physicians who leverage technology and clinical expertise to deliver care to some our nation's most critically ill Veterans. We are seeking Physicians who have completed a Critical Care Fellowship to join our team at one of the 15 locations identified in this announcement. 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: Must be able to demonstrate he/she has a satisfactory number of critical care inpatient encounters within the last 24 months. Critical Care Board Certification or Critical Care board eligibility. Completed an ACGME/AOA - accredited and approved residency training program in internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, emergency medicine, neurology, or neurosurgery, followed by completion of an accredited and approved training program (fellowship) in critical care medicine. Alternatively, applicant may be Critical Care Medicine (CCM) certified through the ABIM. Have a current ACLS certification. Prior Telemedicine experience, especially Tele-Critical Care. 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: Per VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - a physical examination will be conducted based on the physical requirements of the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; light carrying, under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (8 hours); standing (8 hours); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability; clear speech. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically becomes stressful. ["Tele-Critical Care Intensivist Duties: Providing state-of-the-art evidence-based critical care clinical management for all patients in Tele-Critical Care equipped beds or utilizing Tele-Critical Care equipped mobile carts within facilities affiliated with the Tele-Critical Care Program. Working in the Tele-Critical Care center with sufficient frequency to maintain full fluency with the software, equipment, technical issues, primary site staffing models and patterns of utilization of the Tele-Critical Care program and to sustain familiarity with the primary site teaching programs and familiarity with the full cohort of Tele-Critical Care and bedside physicians and nurses (a minimum of 2 12 hours shifts monthly). Interacting with bedside hospital-based physicians and nurse managers to facilitate professional relationships Fostering professional relationships with academic faculty and trainees at all sites served. Assisting the Tele-Critical Care Physician Director and Associate Physician Director(s) in building a positive working relationship with academic program directors to ensure Tele-Critical Care program adherence with ACGME requirements while maintaining optimal utilization of the Tele-Critical Care resource, as well as patient safety and quality in the management of critically ill patients across the system. Developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with department, Medical Center, VISN, national and other personnel, and outside agencies. Completing and maintaining all training and proficiency requirements. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized. 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 Work Schedule: All Shifts: days/nights/weekends"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.