Created at: October 10, 2025 00:13
Company: Veterans Health Administration
Location: Philadelphia, PA, 19019
Job Description:
The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, see Required Documents below. Education/length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process (Base Pay + Market Pay) The duties of this position will be conducted at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. This position specializes in providing comprehensive, holistic care to veterans experiencing serious illness across the continuum of care.
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. Additional Requirement: Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics and Palliative Care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 The duties of the Palliative Care physician include: - Managing medications to palliate symptoms related to serious illness such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, agitation, anxiety, and other symptoms. - Ensuring clear communication of medical information and options for care and treatments - Coordinating care across different care settings by facilitating communication among providers - Providing education and support - Facilitating advance care planning and conversations to ensure the care is aligned with the goals and preferences of Veterans. - Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and contributing to care planning. - Documenting patient care activities and maintaining accurate medical records as per facility policy. - Precepting Palliative Care and Geriatrics fellows and participating in relevant activities of the fellowship programs. - Precepting and teaching Penn medical students who have chosen elective rotations on the Palliative Care service. - Providing direct supervision, education, monitoring, and feedback to trainees and other professional staff. - Performing on-call duties on a rotating basis for the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit in the CLC on nights, weekends, and holidays. - Ensuring adherence to medical center policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations. - Ensuring that performance objectives established by VACO, VISN, and the local facility are met. - Creating and participating in educational activities including continuing medical education programs. - Participating in Medical Center education/training programs including TMS. - Acting as the organization's medical representative in the community through committees including Veteran Community Partnerships - Maintaining a professional relationship with all staff and Veterans At the CMJC VAMC, the Palliative Care physician may rotate as the Attending Physician primarily through the inpatient Palliative Care consult service and the outpatient clinic which includes in-person and telehealth Veteran encounters. Although the Hospice Clinical Director is the primary provider in the Hospice Unit of the CLC, there may also be clinical time on service in the Hospice Unit in the CLC as needed for coverage. ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES - Decision-Making: Ability to make sound clinical and ethical judgments under pressure - Compassion: Demonstrates sensitivity, understanding, and empathy - Cultural Competence: Commitment to providing culturally competent care and respecting diverse backgrounds and beliefs - Adaptability: Flexibility in adapting to changing clinical situations, work schedules, regulatory environments, and advances in hospice care - Technological Proficiency: Comfortable using electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine platforms, digital healthcare tools. AGE, DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS. Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served, which is appropriate to the cognitive; emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age- specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures. Age Categories include: Young Adulthood (18 - 39): Accepts adults' chosen lifestyle and assist with necessary adjustments relating to health. Employee recognizes the person's commitment and the function of competence in life and supports changes as necessary for health. Middle Adulthood (40 - 64): Employee assists clients to plan for anticipated changes in life, to recognize the risk factors related to health, and to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. Late Maturity (65 - Death): Employee assists clients to keep physically and socially active, and to maintain peer group interactions. Employee provides necessary safety measures and assist client with self-care as required, and with maintaining as much independence as possible. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am thru 4:30 pm