Physician - Nephrology (Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized)

Summary

The Medical Service Mission is to lead satisfied staff dedicated in providing high-quality, patient-centered care at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), a tertiary training and research Veteran's Hospital. This Renal/Nephrology Physician position supports this mission through direct patient care, administrative dependability, and support of the Section's clinical, educational and research activities and directives.

Duties

• The Staff Nephrology/Renal Physician is expected to remain privileged and practicing in their specialty field(s). The specific privileges and procedures for a provider are approved by the Professional Standards Board. All physicians must meet the following: Patient Care, Medical/Clinical knowledge, Clinical Judgment, Interpersonal Communication skills, Professionalism and Systems Based Practice, and Clinical Management including indirect patient care. Demonstration of patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life. Demonstration of knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social sciences, and the skillful application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. Demonstration of the use of practice-based learning and improvement including the application of scientific evidence and methods to evaluate and improve patient care. Demonstration of interpersonal and communication skills that enable the establishment and maintenance of professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of the health care team. Demonstration of behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession. Demonstration of an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve and optimize health care delivery. Participation in staff meetings and peer review process (expected) and hospital committees commensurate with appointment and interests. Assumption and service of clinical directorships and other administrative responsibilities as assigned by the section chief. Demonstration of effective communication to staff and up to leadership, including "heads up" (for acute patient poor outcomes) and issue briefs as needed. Service as Acting Section Chief when the Section Chief is on leave as requested. Participation in FPPE/OPPE processes for personal professional practice development and maintenance. Participation in the Clinical Pertinence Review process including review of clinical performance of section members as directed. Adherence to employee health requirements. Adherence to Tours of Duty and Flex Time requirements including accurate and timely reporting of service hours as applicable. Development and communication of a clinical coverage plan clinical responsibilities in advance of leave and non-tour hours whenever possible. Practitioners are expected to provide inpatient and consult service during off tours (nights, weekends, and holidays) as needed by the organization. Adherence to CPRS documentation rules and requirements, including copy/paste expectations and supervision of trainees in the same Adherence to clinic procedures and directives to facilitate patient scheduling & access to specialty services Completion of Peer Reviews, Medical Advisory Opinions, Compensation and Pension reviews and other case reviews as assigned by the section chief. Participation in VA initiatives and projects including: the Medical Home and Patient Centric Care, System Redesign and process improvement, Utilization, Quality, and Patient Safety oversight including safety event reporting as indicated. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for Highly Qualified Individuals 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, 8:00am-4:30pm

Requirements

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.

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. 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.