Summary

The Amarillo VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for a full time Physician-Supervisory(Ophthalmologist) specializing in medical and surgical eye care to all enrolled Veteran patients. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be considered for a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Board Certification: Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA
• however - three circumstances in VA require Physician board certification: If the position being filled is required to be a Supervisor for medical students or Physician residents (including fellows) - the LCME - ACGME - or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply
• If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example - in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools) - then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position
• If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example - as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine) - then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply
• Note: Board certification must be maintained for the duration of time that the employee is serving in a position that meets the circumstances listed above
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board Eligible in Ophthalmology Examine and treat patients functioning as a comprehensive ophthalmologist clinically and surgically Determine the need for Surgical or Non-Surgical treatment Perform intravitreal injections for retinal diseases Perform minor or major surgical procedure related to injuries and disease Perform laser procedure for retinal diseases as well as anterior segment lases such as PI - YAG - etc
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Administrative Duties Continued: Assuring the timely and appropriate medical care of VA patients within the section
• Implementing appropriate quality assurance and improvement measures on an on-going basis
• Representing the service in assigned committees and/or meetings with influence on patient care.

Duties

• Duties Include: Medical care includes examinations of the following: refractive status of the eye
• eye and adnexa (eyelids - conjunctiva - tear ducts)
• internal eye structures
• the surrounding boney orbit
• the optic nerve.
• refractive correction of nearsightedness - farsightedness - presbyopia (inability to see near objects) and astigmatism includes spectacles or contacts lenses
• Topical medications (eye drops or ointment) include artificial tears for dry eye
• antibiotics for eye infection
• glaucoma drops
• antihistamines
• and others
• Laser surgery is commonly used as treatment to reduce eye pressure in glaucoma - repair retinal tears - and reduce growth of new blood vessels in diabetic retinopathy
• Common surgical management of the eye includes correction of eyelid position (entropion - ectropion)
• repair of lacerations (eyelid - cornea - eyeball)
• cataract surgery extraction with insertion of intraocular lens
• glaucoma
• muscle surgery to correct eye position
• and surgical repair of retinal detachments
• Obtain medical histories and performing routine and complex examinations on the eyes
• Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting - including establishing diagnoses Formulating and implementing care plans - and providing follow-up care Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests - ie: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Computerized Tomography (CT) - scans - etc
• Carrying out health promotion - disease prevention - and patient education activities Ordering and obtaining laboratory specimens Ordering ancillary services - such as Pharmacy - Social Services - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapies - Prosthetic Services - etc
• Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures Ordering Patient care supplies Writing orders for or prescribing medications Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatment and procedures Administrative Duties Include: Areas of oversight responsibility consist of: Ophthalmology and Optometry - and any other relevant specialty that is within the Surgical Service's purview
• Supervising the clinical - technical - and ancillary staff in their respective duties within the Ophthalmology and Optometry section
• Overseeing professional and administrative activities within the assigned division including selection - orientation and continuing education of staff in collaboration with other Physician leaders
• Assuring that individuals with clinical privileges competently provide service within the scope of privileges granted
• Provide leadership and accountability for all aspects of the section - assuring support of the mission and values of this health care system
• Monitoring and ensuring compliance with agency regulations - medical staff bylaws - facility policies - Joint Commission (JC) standards - and other regulations
• Utilize data about providers and available resources - to formulate strategic short term and long-range plans and goals for the service - and to address deficiencies
• Formulate and implement general policies - procedures - standards - goals and objectives for the surgical service that are consistent with - and supportive of - the mission of the health care system
• Demonstrate leadership in performance improvement and patient safety projects formulating policies and procedures to facilitate short- and long-range plans and goals for the service
• Administrative Duties Continued Under Qualifications Section VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - 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