The VAMC in Louisville, KY is recruiting for a Hospitalist to serve as a full time physician for Specialty Care. The hospitalist provides inpatient clinical care to the patients referred to the hospitalist services and close coordination with the nurse director and hospital departments to ensure high quality, effective patient care and leads the hospital interdisciplinary team to improve efficiency and facilitate continuum of care for patients.
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: Teaching experience for at least 2 years; should be available nights and weekends. ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL/MOTOR SKILLS: Excellent fund of knowledge with respect to the practice of medicine. Ability to speak clearly to communicate with patients, families, physicians, agencies, and staff regarding patient care. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Ability to develop positive interaction with patients, families, physicians, administrators, and co-workers in order to effectively care for the patient. Ability to develop positive relationships with referring physicians or potential referring physicians. The work to be performed must be provided by a physician who is board certified/board eligible in Internal Medicine. S/he must be available to diagnose, treat and manage patients with common general adult medical illnesses according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods and techniques. Services to be performed include but are not limited to: Admits and manages inpatients including patients in the inpatient and Step Down Unit with general adult medical illnesses. This includes admitting patients and performing histories and physical examinations; rounding on patients and writing progress notes; discharge planning and completion of discharge summaries. Works closely with specialists and primary care physicians to ensure that inpatients receive continuous quality care. Serves as medical on call in rotation with other internists. Serves as intensivist on call in rotation with other internists. Acts as medical liaison and attending for oncology inpatients by working closely with a part-time oncologist, oncology mid-level provider and chemotherapy nurse to ensure continuity of inpatient care. Coordinates the transfer of patients with the VA and other hospitals if necessary. Provides internal medicine consultations to Mental Health and Surgical Services. Participates in quality assurance programs and chart reviews. Ensures communication with the incoming evening Medical Officer of the Day regarding patient care issues. Attends Medical Service staff meetings and meetings of the Medical/Dental staff. Serves on Medical Staff committees. Completes all medical records in accordance with Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff. The physician must have an unrestricted medical license and must be ACLS certified. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for Title 38 occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Duties include but are not limited to: Demonstrates, by action and attitude, the general performance standards, treating each patient and referring physician as a cherished customer. Develops and nurtures positive and productive working relationships with the nurse director, promoting a culture of teamwork and camaraderie. Conducts daily hospital rounds on all patients referred to the service. Provides patient care in a manner consistent with hospital medical staff by-laws, LOS standards, pathways/best practices, and referring physician requests. Communicates daily with families, referring physicians, specialists, administration, and hospital departments in the care and treatment of patients referred to the service. Works with the nurse director to initiate and coordinate early discharge through collaboration with specialists, nursing staff, social services, utilization management, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Develops and maintains good working relationships with hospital departments and hospital administration. Demonstrates a commitment to service by providing distinctive, personalized care and services by listening, anticipating, and responding to the needs of both internal (coworkers, fellow employees, etc.) and external (patients, family members, referring physicians/specialists, hospital staff, etc.) customers and striving to exceed customer expectations. Contributes to hospital quality improvement activities by actively participating in the medical staff activities, participating and serving on various hospital committees as requested by hospital (pharmacy, patient care coordination, patient safety), and by making suggestions for improvement in processes and supporting change efforts in the hospitalist program. Participates in the business development and marketing process as requested by hospital and/or nurse director. Serves as a liaison to other physicians, business office, and administration to maximize communication and increase knowledge of the hospitalist program benefits. Assumes responsibility for professional practice and personal growth. Attends and completes all specific competencies and annual organizational requirements. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to discuss patients' progress, variances, and achievement of expected outcomes and plan of care. Assumes responsibility to ensure that all necessary documentation is accurate, complete, and timely, including medical records, billing/coding, and any other such documentation as requested by hospital from time to time. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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. Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday