Spine Surgeon

Spine Surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal diseases and conditions. A Spine Surgeon, with additional training, specialize in the areas of sports medicine, spine surgery, and trauma surgery. This position is located in the Surgical Department of the Memphis VA Medical Center and will report directly to the Chief of Surgery. 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. Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time while repeating same movements or walking. Bending and twisting body to lift, push, and pull light weight objects. Lift, carry, or move objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Stand for as much as 85% of work time. Reach above shoulder level in order to perform work. Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of equipment. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Operative and non-operative care in spine surgery patients to diagnose, correct, treat or rehabilitate conditions, illnesses and injuries of the spine to include the vertebral column, the spinal cord, and the spinal nerves. These privileges cover patients in the outpatient clinics, inpatient care units, intensive care units, operating suites, emergency department and any area deemed clinically appropriate for the VA Medical Center Memphis Admission, work-up, diagnosis, consultation, and ordering/prescribing medications to treat spine surgery patients in the Spinal Surgery clinic, inpatient care units, intensive care units, operating room suites, emergency department and telemedicine settings. The Spine Surgeon rotates with other physicians on a regular basis as needed. He/She also works on-call as priorities demonstrate a need. Must be able to demonstrate that he/she has previously performed spinal procedures. He/she is responsible for providing the patient with risks, benefits and alternative treatments and securing the informed consent of the patient/family needed before conducting invasive procedures. Must demonstrate significant and distinguishing accomplishments in teaching, clinical research and clinical practice. Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, subject to call to include nights and weekends. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.\nPay: 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"]

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.