Career Central

The staff physician in the Pulmonary/Critical Care Section in Medical Service of the Veterans Affairs Central California Health Care System (VACCHCS) and is responsible for all aspects of pulmonary and critical care to veteran patients. The incumbent is involved in clinical, educational, and research programs which will involve the supervision and teaching of fellows and residents through the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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: The physician must be board certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). American Heart Association BLS/ACLS certified. 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: Physical requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized\nEducation Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Position Not Eligible Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The Staff Pulmonologist will participate in quality assurance/performance measures, research development, and maintaining internal/external organizational liaisons. The incumbent is responsible for participating in a variety of meetings and/or committees within and related to the Medicine Service, facility-wide committees, VISN 21, and our university affiliate UCSF Fresno. The Staff Pulmonologist will have a faculty appointment with UCSF Fresno. The Pulmonologist physician is board-certified in Internal Medicine (ABIM), and Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine.\nProviding care for the full spectrum of sleep disorders, is comprised of general and subspecialty sleep disorders clinics, inpatient consultative services, in-lab and home-based sleep testing, tele-sleep services to its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to veterans and their significant others/family members. Incumbent is given authority to make his/her own work assignments within the program area to which assigned. Consults with the Chief Pulmonologist and the Chief of Medicine as needed and with colleagues to develop knowledge and apply agency policies and practices to new matters. His/her work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance with procedures and practices applicable to the subject. Uses initiative and resourcefulness in deviating from traditional methods or trends and patterns to develop new methods, criteria, and proposed new policies. Practices at an advanced level and independently gathers relevant information to guide practice. Participates and is responsible for ongoing professional performance evaluations in collaboration with the Chief of medicine service (e.g. Ongoing Professional Evaluations (OPPE), Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE), etc.) The Staff Pulmonologist reports directly to the Chief Pulmonologist and consults with the Chief of Medicine; and fully cooperates with other staff of Medicine Service and other health care services. Other functions to be performed include but are not limited to: Coordinate the clinical care of the medicine patients and collaborate with the other service(s) on the care of their patients. Facilitate communication among primary care physicians, hospitalists, specialists, patients and their families Provide inpatient consultations and attending responsibilities in pulmonary/critical care/sleep medicine and bronchoscopic procedures in appropriate cases; conduct general pulmonary/sleep outpatient clinics. Provide guidance to respiratory therapists. Responsible for appropriate documentation of clinic notes, consultations and procedures using the computerized patient record; and performing routine/emergency diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Admit, examine, treat, transfer and discharge patients referred to your service that require inpatient care and when appropriate Perform daily rounds on all assigned inpatients and write daily progress notes. Provide supplemental coverage to coverage to ICU in support of assigned hospitalist(s). Participate in after-hours coverage and call coverage as needed. Participate in activities of the medical center that are designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health care Organizations (The Joint Commission) and other regulatory agencies as they apply to the position. Participate in committees and review processes when needed or requested. Participate in all activities of the Pulmonary/Critical Care Section that includes other programs such as the Sleep Study. Review and act upon access and productivity to ensure highest quality of care is provided to our veteran patients. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm"]