Physician (Gastroenterologist)

Summary

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is seeking a Gastroenterologist to provide comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Gastroenterology, with an additional focus on patients with hepatitis. This position will be located at the Health Care Center, Ambulatory Surgery Center in Harlingen, TX.

A Recruitment / Relocation Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Duties

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The Gastroenterology staff physician should be skilled in providing patient care and in coordinating the activities of other health care providers. He / she should be an effective teacher for fellow staff members, house staff medical students and in allied health care disciplines. It is desirable that the

physician have demonstrated research abilities. He / she will be currently licensed in a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia and should preferable be a certified or qualified for examination by the American Board of Internal Medicine, or other appropriate specialty certifying boards.

Duties include the following :

The Gastroenterology staff physician is responsible for providing primary, secondary, and tertiary care in both hospitalized and outpatient settings, identifying patients' health problems and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs. He / she is responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel, resolving problems affecting patient care and providing appropriate education for the patient / family members regarding the patient's care, patient's illness and its management.

A major percentage of the physician's time will be devoted to patient care. Depending on other activities, sufficient time will be allotted to administrative duties.

Procedures :

The Gastroenterology staff physician will be responsible to perform diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower gastrointerstinal endoscopy and colonscopy procedures.

• Liver Biopsy
• Small Bowel Biopsy
• Dilation of the esophagus (bouginage)
• Esophageal motility
• Upper Gl endoscopy
• Colonoscopy & Flex Sigmoid
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
• Polypectomy
• Laparoscopy (Peritoneosopy)
• Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
• Laser : Photocoagulation of vessels
• Laser : Tumor Ablation
• Gastric lavage & cytology
• Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices
• Esophageal ligation or banding of varices
• Endoscopic ultrasonography with or without fine needle aspiration biopsy
• Placement of esophageal stent

The incumbent must demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide patient care appropriate to the age of the patients served. The

incumbent provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the young adult (age 18-40), middle adult (age 41-65), and older adult (age 66-older) patient.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday (8 : 00 a.m. - 4 : 30 p.m.)

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

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) :

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 :

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

Preferred Experience :

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements : Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Walking (1hrs); Standing (2hrs); Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental / Emotional Stability.

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 :

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.