Physician - Cardiologist

The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center is recruiting for one Cardiologist to perform duties at the VA hospital in Spokane, WA.

A recruitment/relocation incentive has been authorized for this position and may be offered to a highly qualified candidate.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

This is an open continuous announcement. See "Additional Information" below for more details.

The Cardiologist employed within the Medical Staff at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center shall perform comprehensive clinical, and consultative functions related to cardiological care.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients presenting cardiovascular symptoms.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as EKGs, echocardiograms (transthoracic and transesophageal), stress tests (treadmill, stress echo, nuclear), Holter monitors, event recorder studies, and cardiac catheterizations.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans for patients with cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertension.
• Prescribe medications and provide ongoing management to patients, adjusting treatment regimens as needed based on patient responses.
• Perform and/or supervise interventional electrophysiological procedures.
• Educate patients on lifestyle modifications to reduce cardiovascular risk, including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
• Conduct regular follow-up visits to monitor patient progress and make necessary adjustments to their care plans.
• Diagnose, treat, and manage patients with cardiac diseases using standard, accepted methods and techniques, maintaining current knowledge and skills.
• Perform general cardiology examinations on established or newly consulted patients, including e-consultations in Cardiology clinics.
• Identify, evaluate, and address cardiac diseases, prevention, and health promotion issues of the Veteran population.
• Manage referrals/consults and provide education and counseling to Veterans in preventive care, applying evidence-based care for various cardiac conditions.
• Maintain accurate and thorough patient records, including clinical notes, treatment plans, and follow-up documentation in electronic health record (EHR) systems.
• Complete administrative tasks such as billing and coding.
• Work collaboratively with other healthcare providers.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex cases and formulate treatment plans.
• Supervise and interpret exercise stress tests and certified in Nuclear Cardiology.
• Participate in quality assurance programs and chart reviews, demonstrating knowledge of and promoting performance improvement.
• Teach and guide others involved in the delivery of cardiology-related services, including medical students and residents.
• Establish professional relationships with clinical service providers within the medical center, outpatient center, and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
• Assess, triage, and prioritize Cardiology referral requests to facilitate prompt patient care, developing appropriate treatment plans, and coordinating follow-up care as needed.
• Provide patient care and/or consultative services across outpatient clinics, inpatient wards, Urgent Care Centers (UCC), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC), and telehealth platforms
• Privileges to admit, evaluate, diagnose, and provide treatment or consultative services to patients over the age of 18 years old presenting with cardiovascular disease.

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

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for 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 your start date. 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. Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

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.

Additional Requirement: Completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved fellowship program in Cardiology. Must have passed the Certifying Examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The Physician will have completed, at least, a three-year Cardiology residency and will have passed the Certifying Examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease.

Preferred Experience: Ability to interpret invasive/non-invasive procedures.

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

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.), pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, walking, standing both legs, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid may be permitted).

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.