Physician (Palliative Care)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Duties The Palliative Care Physician specializes in providing comprehensive, holistic care to veterans experiencing serious illness across the continuum of care. This involves conducting medical assessments, developing personalized care plans, managing medications and non-pharmacological methods for palliating symptoms related to serious illness, and coordinating with other health care providers to ensure veterans receive care that addresses their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES The duties of the Palliative Care physician include: Managing medications to palliate symptoms related to serious illness such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, agitation, anxiety, and other symptoms Ensuring clear communication of medical information and options for care and treatments to assist Veterans and their families in navigating the complexity that often accompanies serious illness Coordinating care across different care settings by facilitating communication among providers Providing education and support to patients and their families regarding serious illness and end-of-life issues Facilitating advance care planning and conversations about care preferences to ensure the care being provided is aligned with the goals and preferences of Veterans Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and contributing to care planning Documenting patient care activities and maintaining accurate medical records as per facility policy Precepting Palliative Care and Geriatrics fellows and participating in relevant activities of the fellowship programs Precepting and teaching Penn medical students who have chosen elective rotations on the Palliative Care service Providing direct supervision, education, monitoring, and feedback to trainees and other professional staff Serving as a member of the organized medical staff, participating in staff meetings, and ensuring adherence to medical center policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations Ensuring that performance objectives established by VACO, VISN, and the local facility are met Ensuring that clinical protocols, utilization review, case management, quality assurance, and compliance programs are followed and feedback for improvement are provided Ensuring compliance with facility policy for timely completion of progress notes, consults, and encounters Creating and participating in educational activities including continuing medical education programs Remaining knowledgeable about the policies and programs of public health agencies and community services which affect VA patient care Acting as the organization's medical representative in the community through committees including Veteran Community Partnerships Maintaining a professional relationship with all staff and Veterans in the Medical Center in a consistently courteous, cooperative, and collaborative way Demonstrating the ability to adjust to a change in work schedule and demands as required by consult volume as well as mandated changes per local and national directives At the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMJCVAMC), the Palliative Care Physician may rotate as the Attending Physician primarily through the inpatient Palliative Care consult service and the outpatient clinic which includes in-person and telehealth Veteran encounters. Although the Hospice Clinical Director is the primary provider in the Hospice Unit of the CLC, there may also be clinical time on service in the Hospice Unit in the CLC as needed for coverage. ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in an empathetic, culturally sensitive, and accessible manner - Ethical Integrity: Commitment to the highest standards of professional conduct, confidentiality, and integrity in all aspects of patient care - Decision-Making: Ability to make sound clinical and ethical judgments under pressure - Compassion: Demonstrates sensitivity, understanding, and empathy - Cultural Competence: Commitment to providing culturally competent care and respecting diverse backgrounds and beliefs - Adaptability: Flexibility in adapting to changing clinical situations, work schedules, regulatory environments, and advances in hospice care- - Technological Proficiency: Comfortable using electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine platforms, and other digital healthcare tools AGE, DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS. Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served, which is appropriate to the cognitive; emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age- specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am thru 4:30 pm Requirements Conditions of employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. Board certified or board eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine is strongly preferred Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics and Palliative Care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. 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: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] 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. Benefits 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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact, 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) 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 Review our benefits 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.