Orthopedic Surgeon

The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS), Surgical Service is seeking one (1) full-time Orthopedic Surgeon. This position carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at an Academic Affiliate. Preferred applicants should have the appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher at an Academic Affiliate. 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. Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA; however, three circumstances in VA require physician board certification: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["This full-time, Orthopedic Surgeon position is responsible for providing orthopedic care to veterans. The incumbent will participate in resident training and will hold a faculty appointment with our academic affiliates. The Orthopedic provider is credentialed and privileged through the Medical Staff Office Supervisor under the auspices of the Chief of Staff in accordance with Medical Staff By laws. Duties include, but are not limited to: Diagnosing, treating and managing all orthopedic diseases/injuries. Assuring that a high degree of quality patient care is provided at all times. Independently exercising creativity in solving problems without direct supervisory guidance to meet the varying needs of patients while under care in the Orthopedic Clinic. Exercising independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex Orthopedic conditions. Planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in treatment objectives. Referring, when indicated, patients with multiple health problems to other providers within the facility and the VISN. Consulting with physicians and others, when requested, to augment the care of their patients as it relates to emergent and traumatic conditions as well as Orthopedic manifestations of systemic conditions. Ordering diagnostic tests as appropriate. Writing prescriptions for medications or other items on the hospital formulary. Hospitalizing patients within the VISN as appropriate and discharging patients from outpatient care if it is determined that care is no longer required. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm"]

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.