Summary

The Cardiologist position is within VISN 23 Specialty Care Service Line and provides inter-professional services to facilities that are underserved. This is a remote position. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of a VA facility. Internet speed tests may be requested to verify/determine suitability for remote work of candidates in consideration under this announcement. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: 3+ Years of Cardiology Experience Previous Telehealth Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being
• The VISN 23 Cardiologist serves Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN)
• The primary duties are to provide Cardiology consultative and continuity care services at underserved or understaffed VISN facilities through a combination of virtual and in-person care when needed
• Major Duties include but are not limited to: Provides consultation and continuing care for various forms of cardiovascular disease states - both for diagnosis and treatment in the inpatient and outpatient settings and by telehealth
• Participates in the expanded use of clinical video telehealth (VVC and CVT)/electronic consultation (e-Consult) to improve access to cardiology care
• Participates in the referral management process for cardiology consults
• Provides cardiology consultation to other health care providers (nurse practitioners/physician assistants - medical students - and residents/fellows)
• Provides comprehensive patient care in the form of non-invasive - consultative - and inpatient/outpatient cardiology care
• Expertise in the interpretation/reading of EKGs - Holter monitors - stress tests - Zio - Echo - loop records - tilt testing - non-invasive ICD stimulation - pacer and ICD evaluation and programming - as appropriate to the telehealth setting - are required
• Central venous line insertion and management - intra-arterial line insertion and management - cardioversion - and moderate sedation privileges and fluoroscopy privileges are not required unless the Incumbent provides concurrent in-person care services
• The physician is responsible for recognizing patients appropriate for referral or consultation
• Evaluates the patient to assess changes in physical status during inpatient or outpatient care via in-person exams or telemedicine care
• Documents every encounter into the electronic medical record - with the appropriate level of detail - with an assessment and plan for ongoing care
• Any notes written by the fellow - resident - student - or midlevel provider under Cardiology supervision are reviewed by the staff Cardiologist - with corrections and additions added in an attending note - as appropriate and in a manner
• Clinical activities may include - but are not limited to - clinical assessment and evaluation of Inpatients and Outpatients - reading and interpretation of cardiac studies
• Performs other duties as assigned
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for 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) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or assistance
• Learn more
• 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: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Position is remote eligible and is currently exempted from return to office (RTO) requirements
• Remote exempted positions are reviewed every 6 months and DOES NOT imply permanent remote work status
• This position may be required to report to an office in the future.