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. 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.

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
• (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: MQSA Certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• Provide expertise and support in various facets of Mammography and patient care: The Breast Radiologist will work alongside the Mammography supervisor for preparation of the facility's 3 year ACR Accreditation and annual FDA/MQSA inspection to include documentation and any corrective action plans
• Assists the Mammography supervisor in implementation of mammography Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives - including technical and professional guidelines and standards
• Alongside the Mammography supervisor - the Breast Radiologist must ensure that the quality assurance program - including personnel assignments - all equipment quality control tests - records - and corrective actions - the annual physicist's survey - and medical audit and outcomes analysis - meet the required standards 21 C.F.R
• Part 900. - as well as VHA policy
• Participates in mammography imaging policies - procedures - best practices - and protocols
• Maintains close association with professional organizations and provider groups in affiliated institutions - as well as other public and private organizations concerned with breast imaging
• Leads and/or participates in various workgroups - committees - and advisory groups as assigned by the Chief of Radiology
• Other duties as assigned
• Image Interpretation and Consultation: Interpret all breast imaging exams including relevant exam comparison and correlation with clinical information in CPRS
• Generate reports that contain pertinent findings and measurements - a description of normal and abnormal structures - discussion of differential diagnoses - recommendations and impression
• Performs image guided breast biopsies
• Consults with patients over results and recommend further testing
• Patient Care: Interact with patients to obtain relevant clinical history and physical exam findings within the scope of radiology practice - provide education to patients and support - obtain informed consent - issue disclosures when appropriate - document in CPRS - enter orders in CPRS - and other aspects of physician practice
• Participate in the coordination of patient care: Contact clinical providers as relevant to assure effective patient care - discuss evaluation - management - follow-up and other aspects of coordinated - patient-centered care
• Make timely and definitive notification of time-sensitive results and/or results that have major clinical significance
• Integrate resources to provide current - optimal care: consult colleagues - research literature - maintain continuing education and other sources of current practice
• Education: Support academic affiliations in technologist - radiologic assistant - medical student - resident and other teaching programs that involve the Imaging Service
• Provide clinical experience - cognitive development - and other aspects of effective teaching
• Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact david.billinsleyjr@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 Work Schedule: Full-time - 8:00am to 4:30pm - Monday - Friday (or as directed by Radiology Section Chief)