Physician-Cardiology

*****A recruitment/relocation incentive may be offered to highly qualified candidate(s).*****

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - Please see below.

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

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized - As determined by Facility/Agency
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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

The non-invasive cardiologist is a specialist who diagnoses cardiovascular diseases, heart ailments, or other cardiac diseases without using any needles, fluids, or other medical instruments that require breakage of skin. This specialty limits further medical complexities for the heart and usually includes external tests rather than any insertion of needles, fluids, or other medical instruments. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Required skills include privileges include admission, work up, diagnosis, and provision of non-surgical treatment including consultation for patients admitted or in need of care to treat general medical problems, EKG, and other non-invasive cardiac studies (such as Echocardiogram and exercise tolerance test) interpretation.
• Core privileges and special procedures can be performed in the following settings: Clinic, Operating Room, Bedside, Emergency Room, and Catheterization Lab
• Core privileges specific to the subspecialty of Cardiology include echocardiography, exercise & pharmacological stress testing, Holter interpretation, Tilt testing, Stress Echo's, Electrocardiography interpretation, Cardioversion.
• Moderate Sedation Privileges and certification required.

Administrative Functions

• Will be actively involved in teaching fellows, residents, and students and will periodically direct Noon Conferences for their didactic training.
• 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.
• Attend cardiology team meetings.
• Demonstrate ethical conduct and serve as a positive role model to others at all levels of the organization.
• Participate in quality assurance programs and chart reviews.
• Attend Medicine Service monthly staff meetings and Medical/Dental quarterly staff meetings.
• Complete medical records in accordance with Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff.
• Participate in Medical Staff committee assignments.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am-4:30pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor, the incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
Telework: Ad-hoc/Situational-Occasional, Non-routine

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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Preferred Experience: Board certified/eligible in Cardiology.

Physical Requirements: This position requires light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.); light carrying (15 lbs. and under); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); kneeling (up to 1 hour); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; mental stability; working closely with others; and working alone. Ability to drive/operate government vehicle.

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.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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.