Job Description

Summary

The Baltimore VA Medical Center is the acute medical and surgical care facility for the VA Maryland Health Care System and offers a full range of inpatient, outpatient and primary care services. As a surgical specialty care facility, the medical center serves as the neurosurgery referral center for the VA Capitol Health Care Network.

This announcement has been amended to reflect a new closing date of June 3, 2022.

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Duties

Major duties may include but are not limited to:

• The VA Maryland Healthcare System is recruiting for a board-certified multi-specialty radiologist with fellowship training and a subspecialty certificate in neuroradiology.
• The candidate will be responsible for interpreting neuroimaging (CT, MR), body imaging (CT, US, MR), thoracic imaging (CT, MR), and general radiology (XR, US, fluoroscopy). At this time, neuroimaging is expected to account for approximately 40% of the total workload however this is subject to change based on departmental needs.
• Performs as an independent practitioner in all aspects of the specialty including consultations, independent patient workup including preparatory patient visit using all available relevant information.
• Directs patient examinations and preparations, performance of procedures, to include post procedure care as applicable.
• Complies with all requirements for periodic recertification and/or compliance with the Medical Staff Office regarding credentialing matters.
• Functions according to privileges requested and accepted by the Chief of the Service and approved by the Medical Executive Committee.
• Seek privileges in clinical care of patients as applicable.
• Independently and competently performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures not limited to: Cross-sectional interpretation or CT and MR, Virtual colonoscopy, ultrasound and fluoroscopy, mammography and nuclear medicine.
• Interprets radiologic imaging studies and verbal communication in timely manner and required timeframe all critical findings and critical tests, according to the service policy.
• Use of appropriate codes for the findings that trigger a notification to the referring provider is required.
  
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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: Permanent, Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM

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Requirements

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
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.

(

NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).)

Basic Requirements:



Citizenship. Be a Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C.

• 7407(a)).] Licensure and Registration. Physicians must possess a 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. The physician must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.
• Impaired Licensure. A physician who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions of this [Handbook 5005 part II,] chapter 3, section B, [paragraphs 13 and 14].
• Waiver of Licensure. Licensure requirements may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in the VHA Central Office for individuals in research, academic, or administrative assignments involving no direct patient care responsibilities in accordance with current regulations. In addition, the facility director may waive this licensure requirement if the physician is to serve in a country other than the United States and the physician has licensure in that country. (See [this Handbook 5005 part II,] chapter 3, section B, paragraph 14, on waiver of licensure provisions.)
  
  NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C.
• 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed physicians on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of state license, registration or certification.
  
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:

Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME),

OR

[(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),

OR

• 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.
  
  
  
NOTE: 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. For more information, see Section 3a below.

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.]
  
Proficiency in spoken and written English.



Physical Requirements: The physician will dictate Imaging studies using the powerscribe and McKesson software. The physician will need to make occasional trips to the scan room in order to discuss patient care needs with the scanning technologist. There may be some standing, bending, and carrying of light items, such as carrying paperwork. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

• 7402(d) and 7407(d).
  


Preferred Experience:

• Board certified Radiologist with fellowship training.
• Expertise in body MRI, CT colonography, nuclear medicine, and thoracic imaging would also meet expanding departmental needs and are desired skills in the candidate.
• The candidate may be asked to perform basic image guided procedures such as lumbar punctures, myelograms, and joint injections. Comfort with such procedures is desired.


Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/113, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard dated April 1, 2020. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

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:

• Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
• 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.
• 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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.



Financial Disclosure Report:Not required

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.