Physician Pulmonologist

<p>This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), 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.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. The Spokane VA Healthcare System is dedicated to providing Veterans high- quality patient care. The Pulmonologist will primarily deliver care in an outpatient clinic setting, focusing on diagnosing and managing respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, interstitial lung disease, and other pulmonary conditions. Duties include but are not limited to: Diagnosing and managing a variety of pulmonology diseases in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Provides comprehensive evaluation and management of respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, and sleep-related disorders Determine when it is necessary to refer patients for additional assessments, tests, or procedures to establish the diagnosis of sleep and pulmonary disorders, including but not limited to polysomnography, home sleep testing, pulmonary function testing and nocturnal oximetry testing. Ensures timely access to pulmonology specialists through telehealth services and community care options, improving availability for veterans in rural areas. Developing and implementing individualized treatment plans for patients with pulmonary disorders, including complex pulmonology diseases. Providing consultations and expert guidance to other healthcare providers on pulmonology cases. Monitoring patient progress and adjusting treatment plans as necessary based on clinical findings and diagnostic results. Educating healthcare staff on best practices for pulmonology prevention and control. Engaging in clinical research and quality improvement projects to advance the understanding and treatment of pulmonology diseases. Implementing evidence-based practices and contributing to the development of clinical guidelines and protocols. Participating in staff meetings, hospital committees, and the peer review process. Maintaining VA training requirements, timely completion of documentation, and upkeep of credentials required for privileging and re-privileging. Participating in the Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE)/Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) process. Adhering to employee health requirements and participating in Clinical Pertinence Reviews. Is qualified to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with pulmonology diseases disorders according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods and techniques. Cooperates with and participates in medical duties or functions related to quality of care, peer review and with other performance improvement activities as directed. Attend assigned meetings or process action teams. Expert in history taking, physical examination, test interpretation, patient counseling and differential diagnosis and medical therapeutics of these conditions Documents observation, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. Demonstrating leadership within interdisciplinary teams, fostering collaborative decision-making. Ordering, interpreting, and utilizing laboratories, radiologic, and other diagnostic studies to guide clinical management. Prescribing appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Providing comprehensive patient and family education regarding pulmonology diseases and treatment plans. Ensuring practice-based learning and improvement by using scientific evidence and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): up to 25% of the total annual salary every one (1) year for three (3) years. Relocation Incentive: $20,000 to be paid in lump sum to eligible candidate EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, 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) 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00a.m.- 4:00p.m.</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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 identification 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.<h3>Education</h3>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. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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.