Summary

The South Texas Veterans Health Care System is currently seeking a Physician (Anesthesiologist-Critical Care) responsible for patient care - daily administrative duties and quality assurance projects per the needs of the Service. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

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
• Education: 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
• Licensure and Registration: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR 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
• Physical Requirements: See outlined below
• English Language Proficiency
• Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Eligible in Anesthesiology 1-2 years experience in Critical Care Anesthesia Obtain Critical Care Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• Straight Pulling (2hrs)
• Pushing (4hrs)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (2hrs)
• Standing (2hrs)
• Kneeling (2hrs)
• Repeated bending (2hrs)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Both eyes required
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Depth perception
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Mental/emotional stability.

Duties

• The Anesthesiologist will be responsible for providing the most effective delivery of anesthetic care throughout the hospital while meeting and exceeding compliance standards
• The Anesthesiologist has responsibility for providing a complete range of anesthetic care to patients including pre-operative assessment
• Intraoperative anesthetic administration and monitoring and post anesthesia care in compliance with national Joint Commission accreditation standards
• The Anesthesia related direct care in all functional areas of the OR - PACU - ICU ward and Clinic settings as needed
• The Anesthesiologist will examine patients - obtain medical history - use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical and other medical procedures with nurses - CRNA's - medical technicians and other health care providers
• The Anesthesiologist will administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures - using local - intravenous - spinal or caudal methods
• The Anesthesiologist will coordinate the administration of anesthetics with surgeons during procedures in operating rooms
• The Anesthesiologist will provide and maintain life support and airway management as needed and help prepare patients for emergency surgery
• The Anesthesiologist will decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following surgery
• Administrative Duties: The Anesthesiologist must meet anesthesia-related documentation requirement set fort by the Joint Commission and VA Standards
• The Anesthesiologist will participate in the development and implementation of program planning - objectives - policies and standards essential to delivery of quality anesthetic care
• The Anesthesiologist is responsible for maintaining current clinical privileges and keeping his/her license and other appropriate documents and operation systems up to date
• Quality Assurance: The Anesthesiologist participates in safe administration of blood and blood products ensuring that all protocol is followed as per Policy Memorandum 113-08-04 - Blood and Blood Component Administration
• The Anesthesiologist will participate in the teaching of Air Way Management to Podiatry - Dental - and Orthopedic Residents
• The Anesthesiologist will participate in the review of conscious sedation reversal in patients and in teaching a review of intubations and re-intubations in the OR and RACU - provide consultation for nerve blocks - nerve blocks for diagnostic and therapeutic effect - when indicated
• The Anesthesiologist will serve as an instructor in clinical anesthesia for oral surgery residents - surgical residents and anesthesia residents and interns
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (6:30 a.m
• - 3:00 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact edrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator 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