Summary

This position may be 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 an 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 EDRP application review. Former EDRP participants are 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 Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine by the appropriate accrediting agencies
• Current BLS and ACLS certification
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical activity includes sitting - standing (up to 2 hours) - walking (up to 2 hours) - heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) - reaching above the shoulder - and repeated bending
• Incumbent should be emotionally and mentally stable and capable to perform the duties of the position.

Duties

• In conjunction with the surgical or medical attending physician and other consultants - the Pulmonologist/Intensivist (hereafter PI) directs the care of all patients in the Intensive Care Unit at the VA Maine Healthcare System - Togus Campus - located in Augusta - Maine and/or one of the CBOC (Community Based Outreach Clinic) as assigned
• The PI provides continuous vigilance
• early intervention and ongoing care with the goal to decrease ICU related morbidity and mortality
• In addition - the PI proactively communicates with the other members of the team to assure optimal results
• When not scheduled for Intensivist duties - the PI will assume the role of consulting pulmonologist
• As such - s/he will perform inpatient and outpatient procedures - inpatient and outpatient consultations - and inpatient and outpatient follow-up care
• Specific Intensivist Responsibilities: (on rotation): Examine and evaluate each patient soon after admission to the ICU and notify the admitting physician of assessment and recommendations
• Perform and document a Critical Care Medicine consultation on all patients
• Write ICU orders in addition to the admitting physician orders as deemed necessary for optimal care
• Perform and document subsequent evaluation of all patients in the ICU on daily rounds once every twenty-four hours and as needed
• Coordinate with the admitting physician and consultants to organize diagnostic and treatment plans for all Intensive Care Unit patients
• Participate in the Rapid Response Team (RRT) per hospital policy
• Perform and document diagnostic/therapeutic procedures within the scope of individual clinical privileges
• Respond to all cardiac and respiratory arrests in the ICU - assuming the role of the Code Team Leader
• Sign out to the oncoming physician to assure an informed transition of care
• Complete off-duty summary notes when leaving ICU service
• Assist in the appropriate transfer of patients within the Medical Center and - as possible - with transfer to other facilities
• Participate in patient care rounds daily with the charge nurse - pharmacy - dietary - case management - respiratory care - pastoral care ICU nursing staff
• Specific Pulmonologist Duties: Diagnoses - treats - and manages patients with pulmonary diseases according to accepted standards of care
• Performs outpatient Consultations in Pulmonary Clinic (10 to 15 patients per day)
• Provides inpatient Pulmonary Consultations Performs invasive procedures for which s/he has been granted privileges
• Performs Compensation and Pension exams and/or reviews as requested
• May admit ICU patients critically ill with pulmonary diseases and/or requiring assisted ventilation
• Interprets pulmonary function tests
• With appropriate skills - may participate in Sleep Medicine Program
• Administrative Duties: Participate in the educational programs for the critical care unit personnel as well as the medical staff
• Participate in monitoring the quality - safety - and appropriateness of patient care Attendance at ICU Committee meetings is mandatory
• Participate in developing and updating policies and procedures specific to the ICU
• Demonstrate ethical conduct and serve as a positive role model to others at all levels of the organization
• Participates in quality assurance programs and chart reviews
• Attends Medical Service staff meetings and Medical/Dental staff meetings
• Completes medical records in accordance with Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff
• Participates in Medical Staff committee assignments
• Performs other duties assigned by the Chief of Medicine
• Work Schedule: The VA Maine Healthcare System is an acute care facility operating 24 hours per day - 7 days per week
• While most tours of duty are scheduled during the day - the possibility of working evenings - nights and weekends does exist
• On-call and shift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needs
• The typical work schedule is Monday-Friday - 08:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m. - excluding recognized Federal holidays
• In addition - one in four call rotation is required.