Summary This position also offers the opportunity to participate in VA-led research initiatives and to collaborate closely with our University affiliates, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix or Dignity Health. Through this innovative partnership, physicians have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and resources, including the Million Veterans Program (MVP), which supports groundbreaking studies to improve care for veterans and advance medical science. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized for a Highly Qualified Applicant. 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 Duties include but are not limited to the following: Assesses urgency of patient care needs based on sound clinical principals during face to-face encounters, video conference visits and telephone triage. Assumes accountability for coordination of patient care in Rheumatology utilizing telephone or electronic means (secure messaging for patients/for other VA care providers via Teams messaging and email) of communication, during clinic administrative hours and during on-call rotations for inpatient care. Triages and processes rheumatologic consultations, including E-Consultative requests, utilizing the Consult Toolbox program and follows up with administrative assistants to track timely scheduling and completion of rheumatologic consultation appointments. Plans, evaluates, and implements care for the needs of patients with acute and/or chronic rheumatologic disease in ambulatory care and inpatient settings. Performs and reports consultations for potential rheumatologic related problems. Educates patient and family regarding patient's rheumatologic condition. Demonstrates appropriate telephone courtesy by identifying themselves and their service or workstation when answering the phones and responding to the callers in a polite and courteous manner. If unable to satisfy the caller's needs, takes message including the caller's name and phone number and forward message to the appropriate individual in a timely manner. Complete and stays current with Basic Life Support (BLS) Obtains a relevant health and medical history. Performs appropriate rheumatologic- focused physical examination based on age and history. Demonstrates expertise in assessing rheumatologic-related diseases and formulates and documents the appropriate differential diagnosis based on the history, physical examination, and clinical findings. Pursues definitive diagnosis via ordering the appropriate studies followed by expert interpretation of the associated results including laboratory tests, ultrasound, nuclear scans, and radiographs. Demonstrates expertise in assessing and documenting effectiveness of rheumatologic therapies and adjusting regimens to improve outcomes. As institutional resources permit, utilize MSK ultrasound technique appropriately. Diagnoses and formulates approach to rheumatologic associated pain. Assesses pain management effectiveness, including appropriate attention to the patient's perception and adjusts regimens to improve outcomes. Identifies appropriate pharmacologic interventions for rheumatic conditions and is knowledgeable regarding appropriate dosing of pharmacological agents, adverse effects, and the appropriate surveillance procedures for optimizing safe use of these agents, including biologic agents and conventional DMARDs. Initiates and refills prescriptions for rheumatologic therapeutics. Prescribes appropriate non-pharmacologic interventions to address the whole person/whole health, including over the counter drugs such as vitamins and supplements as needed and appropriate. Makes appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community agencies as appropriate and collaborates with other health care providers. Identifies medical and health risks and needs of individual patients and participates in quality assessment and management related to rheumatologic disease. Maintains a current knowledgebase on rheumatologic diagnosis, therapy, and scientific advances by regular reading of relevant medical literature, attendance at seminars and symposia, and CME courses. Perform delegated tasks not specifically outlined herein under the direction and supervision of the Chief of the Rheumatology Division/& the Chief of Medicine Service. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday 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. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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), 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: Board Certified or Board Eligible. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. 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. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] 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.
