Orthopedic Surgeon

Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. 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.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
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Duties
Evansville is Indiana's third-largest city. It is a friendly place in Southwest Indiana, along the Ohio River. Evansville is the metropolitan hub where southwest Indiana meets southeast Illinois and northwest Kentucky. Come enjoy Evansville, Indiana. You'll find family attractions, exciting nightlife, and the education and culture of seven themed museums.
The Evansville Health Care Center is a large outpatient clinic that provides care to approximately 15,000 Veterans annually. Primary Care, Behavioral Medicine and a variety of medical and surgical specialty services are provided. These include Cardiology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Nephrology, Optometry, Gastroenterology, Podiatry, Pain, and Orthopedic Surgery. In addition, Imaging, Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Physical Medicine services are available.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Repayment of qualified student loans over a 5-year period, up to $200,000. Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator Audrey.West@va.gov for questions/assistance.
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
Clinical duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Treat diseases, disorders, and conditions of the musculoskeletal system both medically and surgically.
• Provides quality patient care to outpatients as assigned.
• Assesses Veterans by utilizing advanced clinical judgment and physical assessment skills.
• Identifies acute, non-acute or chronic health problems.
• Uses principles of risk management to identify system issues which impact on patient care.
• Orders and evaluates appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Adheres to clinical practice guidelines for patient chronic diseases.
• Conducts appropriate preventive screens and diagnostic tests.
• Informs patients in order to accomplish shared decision-making in medical treatment/regimes.
• Provides appropriate disposition of identified health care problems.
• Participates in Surgery Service multi-disciplinary activities.
• Keeps informed of development in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal.
• Successfully integrates otolaryngology identified medical needs with other patient care programs at the medical center and in the community.
• Consistently demonstrates medical expertise in diagnosis in and treating multi-symptomatic patients.
• Adheres to local medical center policies, procedures and VHA directives related to timeliness of documentation and encounters for verification of patient visits, finding, and medical recommendations in the electronic medical record.
• Adheres to local medical center policies or VHA Directives related to clinical alerts and service level agreements with other specialized services within the medical center.

Administrative

• Provides guidance and supervision for the Mid-Level practitioners to include Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners.
• Participates and attends medical center committees assigned by the Surgery Service or Chief of Staff.
• Assists in the development and implementation of care programs in Surgery Service.
• If assigned, participates in the selection of new Surgery Service Staff.
• Revises work schedules and assignments on short notice to meet frequent, abrupt and unpredictable changes in prescribed workloads and deadlines.
• Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services such as Process Action Teams or other Patient Safety or Quality Improvement Assignments.
• Participates in Surgery Service Peer Reviews when requested.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 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.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

Preferred Experience: Board Certified preferred, Board Eligibility will be considered.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light Lifting (under 15 lbs.); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs.); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Pushing (up to 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 5 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).
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:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. 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.
3. 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.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Financial Disclosure Report:Not required
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

• Benefits
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  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application,...