Orthopedic Surgeon

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (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 appointment. 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. 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. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Note: Copy of current certification must be submitted prior to entering on duty. Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board Eligible. 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: Placement in this position is subject to meeting the physical requirements of this position. Pre-placement medical examination is required: Functional Requirements. Use of fingers. Both hands required. Walking (4-5 hours). Standing (4-5 hours). Both legs required. Ability to rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Both eyes required. Depth perception. Ability to distinguish basic colors. Ability to distinguish shades of colors. Environmental Factors Working closely with others. ["Shreveport offers you the 'lagniappe', which means a little something extra! Shreveport-Bossier City is situated on the Red River in northwest Louisiana. Commonly known as the 'Ark-La-Tex', the point where Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas meet. The Shreveport-Bossier City area is home to Barksdale Air Force Base, as well as numerous colleges and universities, theaters, lakes, golf courses, beautiful housing areas, churches, and great schools. With a population of nearly 400,000 in the city's metropolitan region, the area promises much to do while maintaining a reasonable cost of living and an excellent, temperate climate. You'll enjoy a unique combination of two great American heritages: a little Cajun, and since we're less than 15 minutes from the Texas border, a little Lone Star, too. Shreveport-Bossier boasts elegant Southern charm and a relaxed attitude that suggests you kick your boots off and stay a while to enjoy year-round festivals, Vegas-style gaming, great local dining experiences, live music and family attractions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be offered to highly-qualified candidate. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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 Major Duties/Responsibilities: Provide professional advice and consultation in critical care areas related to treatment of orthopedic surgical conditions. Effectively supervise and manage professional staff, especially residents, physician assistants, and advanced practice providers. Diagnose and treat medical and surgical disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care. Responsible for initial evaluation and overall workups, history & physicals, and admission of orthopedic surgery patients as needed. Clinical duties include but are not limited: Operating Room (experience in wide variety of standard orthopedic surgical procedures and operations including arthroscopy). In-patient rounds, Emergency Room and Outpatient Clinics. Participate in all surgical quality/performance improvement initiatives as appropriate, including Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP). Participate in orthopedic surgery night call and perform emergency orthopedic surgical procedures. Provide patients with education concerning their disease state and treatment regimen. Assess Veterans' risks and benefits associated with surgical procedures and will provide appropriate informed consent, so Veterans fully understand the important risks and benefits of surgical intervention. Complete all electronic, clinical, daily charting and documentation required by the Medical Center in a timely manner as appropriate, including outcomes reporting as appropriate. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.., Monday - Friday. On-call every 2 weeks."]

Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.