Summary

The Central Texas VA Health Care System is seeking a Physician (Radiologist) to serve as a consultant to referring health care providers and follow the guidelines of the American College of Radiology (ACR) and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be considered for a high 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 In Diagnostic Radiology
• Fellowship training in breast imaging or woment's imaging preferred but no required
• Well-rounded and experienced physican capable of interpreting a wide guman of CT - MRI - Diangostic Ultrasound - GI/GU Fluoroscopy and general radiological x-rays examinations
• Proficieny in women's imagining inluding mamography - breast MRI and breast procedures
• MQSA certification
• Other fellowship training (peferred but not required)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (1 hour)
• Standing (1 hour)
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Both eyes required
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted).

Duties

• The Radiologists is responsible for interpreting and/or perform a wide variety of diagnostic imaging examinations
• they are responsible for monitoring the quality of submitted diagnostic images as well as the quality of the provided interpretations
• As licensed independent practitioners - radiologists may modify the ordering provider's request to a more appropriate study - may expand upon the ordered study or limit it - and may order imaging studies - taking care to consult the referring provider whenever possible
• Radiologists will pre-screen high-risk - high-cost - and high-demand examinations (CT - US - MRI - Mammography - Interventional Procedures) prior to being scheduled to ensure that the ordered imaging examinations are not only clinically indicated but also safe
• In this capacity - the radiologists will take all appropriate action to ensure that exams that are inappropriate or non indicated based on submitted clinical history or that are not safe to perform are not allowed to be scheduled and/or performed
• Radiologists will appropriately protocol ordered CT and MRI examinations in a timely manner before they are performed
• Radiologists thoroughly and appropriately document their interpretations - procedures and health care decisions in the organization's electronic medical record (CPRS)
• Radiologists are required to communicate critical test findings directly to the ordering provider in a timely manner in accordance with established organizational policies
• Radiologists supervise and direct the activities of residents - technologists and nurses working in the service
• Radiologists supervise the administration of medications - including contrast agents - by technologists and nurses
• Radiologists participate in quality assurance and process improvement activities
• Radiologists are required to be \"on call\" after normal duty hours and on weekends and Federal holidays according to an \"on call\" rotation roster established by the Imaging Service Chief
• Radiologists who are \"on call\" are required to ensure that they are able to be contacted in the event of an emergent/urgent situation dealing with imaging issues and are required to courteously respond to all \"on call\" pages or telephonic calls in a timely manner and provide the interpretation of an emergency imaging examination or clarifying the appropriate emergency imaging workup of a patient
• All radiologists are required to ensure that all assigned VA diagnostic workstations - laptop computers - monitors - and installed software (Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) and voice recognition software) that are installed within their homes expressly for \"on call\" purposes are functioning properly and able to communicate properly with the organization's PACS and electronic medical record before their required \"on call\" tour begins to preclude the possibility of unacceptable delays in patient care and to report non functioning equipment to an Imaging Service PACS Administrator or biomedical personnel in enough time to effect repairs before their \"on call\" rotation begins
• Radiologists will ensure their productivity is maintained at or above the level as established by the Chief - Imaging Service and documented in the On-going Provider Performance Evaluation (OPPE)
• Radiologists are expected to ensure that all exams that are ordered from a hospital ward - Emergency Department or Urgent Care clinic and are performed and viewable in PACS are interpreted before the end of the normal duty day
• Likewise - all exams that have been labeled as STAT or Urgent and are performed and viewable in PACS are expected to be interpreted before the end of the duty day
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) On Call/Rotating Holidays VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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