Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (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) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• Additional Requirement: Board Certification in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and subspecialty certification in Hematopathology - and or Dermatopathology and or Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine
• Preferred Experience: Possess at least recent five (5) years of experience and background in the management of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Services Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm - Monday through Friday 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 Physician - Assistant Chief - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) will be responsible to the Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service
• incumbents will be a licensed pathologist - board certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology
• The Anatomic Pathology Section includes Surgical Pathology - Cytopathology - Dermatopathology - Hematopathology - Autopsy - Histology lab - and Immunohistochemistry lab
• The Clinical Pathology Division includes Blood Bank - Chemistry and Toxicology - Hematology - Immunology - Microbiology - Phlebotomy - Point of Care testing - Urinalysis - and Send-out testing and may follow in-house on Flow Cytometry
• Major duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Provides Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology case review/reporting - autopsy procedures/reporting - and attend the principal tumor boards
• Participate in teaching - research - and clinical activities
• Responsible for directing and coordinating functions of the service based on the mission - special needs - and size of the facility
• functions are diverse and encompass patient care - administration - education - and research
• Makes judgments about the medical significance of clinical lab data and communicates effectively in interpreting and correlating lab data to providers
• provides consultation to clinicians when appropriate
• Responsible for P&LMS representation on committees such as Tumor Conference - Transfusion Review - Inpatient Care Board - Ancillary Testing - etc.
• provides for expert consultation for transfusion related problems
• Ensures quality improvement programs are well defined - effectively implemented - and monitored to provide continuous improvements and cost-effective operations in the service
• Provides cost-effective and efficient administration of the P&LMS - including budget planning and responsible fiscal management
• Ensure sufficient numbers and types of qualified personnel are available to perform service work
• Ensure compliance with accrediting agency requirements is met (AABB - JC - CAP - FDA - OSHA)
• Ensures all tests are performed appropriately and in a timely manner
• ensure results are readily available to the providers
• Ensures work environment is safe - employees understand and follow all stated safety policies and procedures
• ensure service is in compliance with applicable safety regulations
• Provides educational direction for laboratory staff via in-service - continuing education - professional meetings - etc
• Supervise Anatomic Pathology and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine
• May perform other duties as required.