A pulmonologist is an internist who diagnose and treat diseases of the respiratory system and breathing-related conditions. This specialist can treat many breathing-related conditions including asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, tuberculosis and work-related lung diseases. May evaluate, treat sleep conditions, and interpret sleep studies. May interpret pulmonary function tests (PFTs). May run the Home Oxygen Clinic. 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. Preferred Experience: Pulmonary/Critical Care Experience. Board eligible/Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing; clear, distinctive speech; and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting, telephone and computer usage, walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring of equipment/objects may be required. Light lifting, under 15 pounds, light carrying, under 15 pounds, straight pulling (2 hours), pushing (2 hours), use of fingers, walking (1hour), standing (2 hours), kneeling (2 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), climbing, legs only (1 hour), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), able to use N-95 mask or PAPR. See VA Handbook and Directive 5019. ["Our hospital provides primary care and specialty health services, including mental health services, cardiology, urology, treatment for dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and more. Below, you'll find our address and hours, parking and transportation information, and the other health services we offer at our Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for eligible candidates. 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 Must have critical care skills. May be required to rotate on-call duties during weekends, holidays, evenings and holidays. Duties may include, but are not limited to: a. Direct patient care in the inpatient and outpatient settings. b. May be assigned Intensive Care Unit (ICU) duties in the absence of an ICU Director. c. Provide diagnosis and treatment to adult patients presenting with conditions that are applicable to his/her practice, training, experience or current competence. d. Provide treatment of pulmonary diseases and disorders in an outpatient setting, provide consultation services in an inpatient setting or emergent need. e. Run the Home Oxygen Clinic and provide evaluations and management to patients who meet criteria for Home Oxygen as per compliance with VHA and/ or CAVHCS directives and policies. f. Read Sleep Studies and Pulmonary Function Tests that are done at CAVHCS. g. Perform minor procedures per credentialing and privileging approvals. h. Order routine diagnostic imaging studies and labs. i. j. Participate actively in performance improvement and attend assigned meetings or process action teams. Work collaboratively with other specialties. Follow VA directives and polices and maintains current in Basic Life Support (BLS) and if required Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). k. Possess computer skills to access and input typed data on each patient into the computerized patient record system (CPRS). l. Maintain license to practice medicine in a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Required to possess full and unrestricted licensure and to maintain current registration. m. Outpatient clinic may be held at the West Campus, Montgomery, Alabama and/or the East Campus, Tuskegee, AL and provide consultation services to all other VA clinics under Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) catchment. n. Provides direct clinical supervision of advanced practice nurses or physician assistants and other staff as appropriate. o. Establishes professional working relationships with other clinical service providers within the medical center and outlying clinics, provide telephone and e-consult consultations as needed p. Cooperates with and participate in medical duties or functions related to quality of care, peer review and with other performance improvement activities as directed. q. Provides prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to veterans in need of Pulmonary services. r. Documents observations, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. s. Attend mandatory trainings, such as, Talent Management System (TMS), VA Voices, Own the Moment, and comply with CME requirements in the specialty of Nephrology timely. t. Must be aware and compliant of VA Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) metrics and VA Performance Measures. u. Other duties may be assigned as needed by the Supervisor or the Chief of Staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
