GeriatricsHospice and Palliative Care Physician

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager on a weekly basis.

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information refer to Required Documents below.

The role of the Hospice and Palliative Care Physician within the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) is to oversee clinical and administrative staff Palliative Care Outpatient Consult Clinic and Inpatient Palliative Care Clinic. This Physician will provide leadership for the hospice and palliative care consults practices in the inpatient/outpatient setting at the Fayetteville VAMC. They will be academically and clinically prepared to perform a broad spectrum of patient care services at the expert addition to providing primary health care they serve as a consultant to nursing and medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs in the home. This physician works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care and patient education participating in research activities and assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation addition they will serve on medical center VISN and/or national committees and assists in the development evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice. The incumbent will provide coverage in Community Living Center (CLC) and support Non-Institutional Care (NIC) including taking calls as needed and other duties as assigned as well as providing coverage for other departments within Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC).

SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:
Primary care includes assessment diagnosis treatment and outcome measures of healthcare problems. This includes the following: initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens performing histories and physicals ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies initiating consultations and referrals and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy VA formulary state regulations and scope of practice. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership experience and creative approaches to management of complex patient care.

This physician will provide preventive medical care including screening; collaborates with nursing personnel in the care of patients; monitors the program to assure quality of care and meets performance measures. Duties may include weekends off tours and holiday coverage. Palliative Care Physician will provide cross coverage for CLC Medical Director and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program Director. The Palliative Care Physician may also be required to act as the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) when needed and other duties assigned within GEC.

The incumbent is encouraged to have a faculty appointment and be involved in academic activities. When HBPC sites are not successful in recruiting a provider the Physician will act as HBPC Medical Director.

The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will maintain on-time evaluations of new consults in the Palliative Care Clinic. The Physician will provide medical oversight of the Hospice Care Inpatient Unit. The Physician will support the Chair of Ethics Hospice and Palliative Care and Dementia Committee. The Physician will also take lead on the Remembrance Ceremonies for Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) veterans while supporting chaplain services. And other duties assigned within GEC.

The Geriatrics/Hospice and Palliative Care Physician is accountable to the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care and Chief of Staff.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

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EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Contact Cheryl Lahair at 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 $1000 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: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
  

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.