Physician (Spinal Cord Injury)

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.

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Duties

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The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Physician (Spinal Cord Injury). The Physician (Spinal Cord Injury) will function in Spinal Cord Injury Service.

The Staff Physician, Spinal Cord Injury Service (SCI) is responsible for care of Veterans with acute and chronic SCI in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment for clinical care of inpatients, outpatients, and SCI long term care residents, consultative services, patient/family education, and supervision of resident physicians . Participation in clinical research is optional. The majority of time is devoted to patient care and education, with the remaining time set aside for performance improvement activities and research to improve patient care and activities sufficient to maintain proficiency in state-of-the-art rehabilitation/medical care.

• Reviews and completes SCI service consults for neuro rehab medical appropriateness.
• Participates in managing facility wide performance measures such as access and utilization.
• Participates in accreditation meetings or surveys as needed.
• May serve on hospital wide committees.
• May participate in Quality Management activities such as root cause analysis or Morbidity and Mortality conference.
• Participates in peer review.
• Maintains medical licensing and Board certification requirements.
• Obtains resident supervisory privileges through medical school affiliate.
• Operates computer technology and Microsoft platforms such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Responds to and completes consults received for the evaluation of SCI.
• Performs and documents a comprehensive, initial history and physical examination required for evaluation in compliance with national guidelines using the electronic tool(s) required by VA.
• Performs procedures including joint, trigger point, and chemoneurolysis injections consistent with privileges.
• Obtains consents and documents procedures performed during clinic visits.
• Consults other disciplines, as necessary, to complete the patient examination, e.g. Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, neuropsychological testing, audiology and speech language pathology testing, vision testing, psychosocial evaluation, etc.
• Carries out whole health and disease prevention activities including education, shared decision-making, and recommending complementary medical services (health coaching/massage/acupuncture).
• Documents care provided in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) in accordance with Northeast Ohio Health Care System requirements.
• Provides education and counseling of patients with Neuro Rehab diagnoses including outcomes, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• On call duties include weekend coverage on the inpatient rehab unit.
• Consults and educates other medical specialties when necessary.
• Provides SCI Neuro Rehab and SCI Annual Examination telehealth consultations.
• Maintenance of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS) certification is required, ACLS certification is not required.
• May be required to perform administrative duties required for performance measures or improvement activities, compliance with accrediting organizations, or other duties as assigned.
• May be required to serve as preceptor for health care students rotating through the inpatient service and outpatient clinics.
• May be required to lecture or make presentations on SCI-related topics to SCI staff.
• May be required to participate in emergency preparedness activities in preparation for national health disasters.

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

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): A recruitment/relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator 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

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Variable based on needs of the service)

Requirements

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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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.
• Board Certification

Preferred Experience:

• Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship Training and BC/BE status is preferred, but not required.
• Experience working with general neurology, multiple sclerosis, ALS or any form of neuro rehabilitation (spinal cord injury and/or disorder) in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Experience or clinical interest in new interdisciplinary neurological/neuro-rehab programs.
• Experience or clinical interest in interdisciplinary care of individuals with neurological conditions.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: The Physical Requirements of this position are concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and may include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) 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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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