Summary The Telehealth Podiatrist for the Durham VA Health Care System performs telehealth and direct medical care in podiatry. The incumbent must have authoritative knowledge in podiatry, preferably as evidenced by Board Certification or by Board Qualification by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery or by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Responsibilities The mission of Podiatry Services of the Veterans Health Administration is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing the highest quality foot and ankle care. To accomplish this mission, the Podiatrist needs to be fully integrated into the interdisciplinary health care team, providing the full scope of podiatric services based on education, training, licensure and competency, emphasize prevention and wellness through all modalities including telehealth, and provide care in the most cost-effective manner while assuring adequate access and maintain a high level of quality as measured by patient satisfaction. Other duties include but not limited to the following: Telehealth certification and ability to provide podiatric services via Clinical Video Teleconferencing (CVT), Store and Forward Technology (SFT), VA Video Connect (VVC), Telephone, and the Remote Temperature Monitoring (RTM) programs. Management and strengthening of these DVAHCS telehealth programs, including Video Teleconferencing (CVT), Store and Forward Technology (SFT), VA Video Connect (VVC), and the Remote Temperature Monitoring program in line with Central Office guidelines. Develops these telehealth programs for podiatry in DVAHCS Community Based Outpatient Clinics, including completion of proposals under the direction of the Chief of Podiatry, to extend the geographic reach and access for veterans in conjunction with the Facility Telehealth coordinators. Trains nursing and telehealth staff to provide podiatric services under the supervision of the podiatrist via CVT and SFT technology. Primary Liaison for the Remote Temperature Monitoring programs, including Podimetrics, Siren Socks, and any new programs that VACO authorizes. Produces a written annual report on the status of the telehealth programs under the direction of the Chief of Podiatry. Completion of history and physical examination with an emphasis on diagnosis and foot/ankle pathology, and identification of related systemic conditions. Management of podiatric pathology. Prescription of pharmaceuticals and therapeutic devices, (orthotics, prosthetic devices, plaster casts, immobilization devices, etc.) Appropriate consultation, referral and co-management of patients with complicating systemic conditions. Provides professional advice to medical staff upon request with regard to professional management of patients being treated. Health promotion and disease prevention. Outpatient and Inpatient Podiatry medical and surgical services. Ongoing prevention, in-service, and patient education programs. Direction, teaching, and training of residents and students enrolled in training programs. Screens podiatry consults for telehealth and explains telehealth to any interested veterans. As staffing and access needs dictate, provides coverage for face-to-face podiatry care for patients who need follow up or with urgent/emergent needs. Demonstrates the ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, patients support service staff, nursing staff, physicians and other DVAHCS staff. Incumbent will display a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's missions and goals. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to patient privacy and HIPAA regulations. Responsible for all administrative activities normally associated with patient care such as consult review and completion, completion of patient medical records, encounters, and other documents necessary in the operation of an inpatient/outpatient treatment clinic. Maintains required continued Medical Education through conferences, reading programs or other approved CME events. Completes all mandatory education in TMS and training and competency validation. 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) - prorated for part-time employees 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: (Part-time, 20 hours/wk): Dates and Times will be determined on onboarding, and will be between the hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The current schedule is Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. Requirements 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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). 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 as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~ Residency Training: Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~ Licensure & Registration: Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Staff Requirements: Staff Podiatrist Medical: None beyond basic requirements. Staff Podiatrist Surgical: Should be board qualified or board certified by a Council on Podiatric Medical Education certification board, or other equivalent certification to grant surgical privileges. Must possess experience to perform duties as a podiatrist and surgeon, and have completed an accredited residency, and/or possess experience to perform general and surgical duties. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. Education Education: Applicants must possess a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. (1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
