Physician (Pulmonary Medicine)-- Critical Care Nocturnist

Job Title

Job duties include:

1. Patient Care:

- Assessments and Care Planning: Conduct thorough initial assessments of critically ill patients upon admission to the ICU during night shifts. Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans to address the complex medical needs of these patients.

- Critical Procedures: Perform, interpret, and manage advanced life support procedures including but not limited to intubation, central and arterial line placement, thoracentesis, paracentesis, and emergency dialysis initiation.

- Monitoring and Maintenance: Oversee the management of mechanically ventilated patients, ensuring appropriate settings and weaning protocols. Utilize invasive hemodynamic monitoring tools to assess and adjust treatment plans for optimal patient outcomes.

- Emergency Response: Lead and respond to all code blue situations, rapid response activations, and other emergent clinical scenarios in the ICU and throughout the hospital as needed.

2. Medical Management:

- Collaboration: Work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including but not limited to nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and consulting specialists, to provide holistic care.

- Continuity of Care: Facilitate seamless transition of care by conducting thorough handoff reports to daytime critical care teams, ensuring continuity and comprehensive understanding of patient conditions and ongoing treatment plans.

- Evidence-Based Practice: Stay current with the latest research and advancements in critical care medicine, integrating evidence-based practices into patient care to enhance outcomes and ensure the highest standard of care.

3. Admissions and Procedures:

- Patient Admissions: Independently manage the admission process for patients presenting to the ICU during night shifts, including timely completion of necessary documentation and initiation of treatment protocols. Some limited admissions to the floor will also be part of the workflow.

- Clinical Procedures: Assist ICU staff with complex procedures and interventions, providing mentorship and technical expertise to ensure successful outcomes.

4. Resident Support and Education:

- Performance Feedback: Regularly provide constructive feedback to residents and trainees on their clinical skills, decision-making, and overall performance.

- Educational Activities: Participate in and contribute to formal and informal educational opportunities, including bedside teaching, case discussions, and morbidity and mortality conferences.

5. Communication:

- Patient and Family Interaction: Engage in compassionate and clear communication with patients and their families, explaining complex medical conditions, treatment options, and care plans. Provide emotional support and address concerns with empathy and professionalism.

- Interdisciplinary Communication: Maintain open and effective communication channels with all members of the healthcare team, ensuring that pertinent information is shared in a timely and efficient manner.

6. Documentation:

- Accurate Record-Keeping: Ensure meticulous and prompt entry of all clinical notes, orders, and patient interactions in the electronic medical record (EMR) system.

- Compliance: Adhere to all documentation standards required for billing, quality reporting, and regulatory compliance.

7. Quality Improvement:

- Initiatives and Projects: Actively participate in quality improvement projects aimed at enhancing patient care processes, outcomes, and overall ICU performance.

- Review and Analysis: Engage in regular morbidity and mortality reviews, root cause analyses, and other quality assurance activities to identify areas for improvement and implement changes as needed.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

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: 7pm-7am, 7 days on, 7 days off, Night Shifts (12-hour shifts)

US Department of Veterans Affairs