Summary

The Section of Allergy and Immunology at the Salisbury VA HealthCare Center (SVA HCS) - in NC is seeking a physician leader with training and expertise in adult allergy and immunology to oversee operations at its three sites of care (Salisbury - Charlotte and Kernersville). The SVA HCS is a complexity 1b facility. The medicine specialty program has a clinical staff of over 100 specialists and consistently ranked in the top 10 by volume of encounters in the VHA. Review additional information

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:

• 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
• 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
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment physical
• Position requires standing for extended periods - use of fingers and both hands - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - ability to distinguish basic colors - emotional and mental stability
• Hearing aid is permitted
• Incumbents may experience exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects
• This could include moving objects such as pieces of equipment and assistance in moving patients.

Duties

• Functions: Clinically and administratively directs and supervises the clinical allergist staff
• Technically develops and direct programs for the inpatient veteran population dealing with drug allergy testing - desensitization and/or consultation for patients hospitalized with allergic emergencies including anaphylaxis - skin eruptions - urticaria and angioedema
• Responsible for ensuring that high quality care is provided consistently at the outpatient clinic area with attention towards nurse training in procedures (skin testing - food and drug challenges - patch testing and/or skin biopsies)
• Responsible for developing - monitoring - and enforcing clinical practice standards - policies and procedures for allergist providers
• Responsible for completion of the OPPEs and clinical pertinence reviews for the allergicts
• Attend Medical Center Committee meetings which oversee the quality of care and reviews and approves internal medicine section policies and procedures
• Administers I participates in the Peer Review process including chart reviews
• Strengthens and facilitates communication among providers - and other Medicine Service supervisors
• Reviews and monitors clinical privileges of each medical provider in consultation with the provider
• Recommends disciplinary action for professional staff conduct detrimental to the service and veteran
• Confirms that all clinical staff maintain hospital privileges and monitors these privileges
• Provide leadership and oversight of provider coding practices for billing purposes
• Establishes and manages a quality assurance/improvement plan for the Internal Medicine Section in coordination with Quality management
• Monitors all leaves of absences for professional staff members of the Medicine section including continuing education - vacation - sick - and emergent annual leave
• Reviews/resolves patient complaints/grievances and directs modification of the system to diminish and eliminate further complaints/grievances with assistance of the ACOS/Medicine Service
• Acts as a liaison for Medicine Service involving medical matters with outside organizations including local hospitals - clinics and other appropriate organizations
• Responsible for assisting the AO and ACOS with physician/mid-level and other clinical staff recruitment for the Medicine section
• Helps ensure patient confidentiality and is advocate for patient rights and responsibilities
• Performs other health leadership - management - clinical duties as required
• Ensure that all clinicians and providers are maintaining continuing medical education adequate to keep knowledge and skills current and to maintain licensure and board certifications
• Responsible for monitoring - assigning and coordinating safety of patient testing - challenges and procedures (SOP)
• Responsible for completion of yearly Proficiencies for all staff allergists and health care providers
• 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 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m.