Physician (Geriatrics & Extended Care) Harlingen, TX (Veterans Affairs)

The Physician is responsible for the quality of care provided by the program, the productivity of the program and for the development and implementation of initiatives to meet the Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCBHCS) mission.
Core duties include obtaining patient histories, performing physical exams, formulating a working diagnosis and developing/implementing a treatment plan according to clinical guidelines and patient's goals and preferences. Other duties are determining disposition to the emergency department, hospital, Assisted Living Facility, Community Nursing Home, Home Health, Home Based Primary Care, and Hospice Care. Other routine duties are ordering lab tests, x-rays, EKG's and other diagnostic procedures, initiating and expediting requests to medical or surgical specialty consults. Other key duties are providing education and counseling to patient and family in preventive care, medical conditions and proper use of medications.
The Staff Physician may collaborate with other providers, and specialists in and outside of the VA system to manage or co-manage patients' health. Select mental health, medical and surgical specialty services are available on-site. Other medical and surgical subspecialties services are available through community contracts.
In addition to observance of Federal National and Local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements governing this Health Care System, this position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities.
- Participate in chart reviews, staff meetings, committees, and other process improvement initiatives.
- Put in practice medical care advances and practice standards.
- Demonstrate effective communication both down to staff and up to leadership, to include patient outcomes and issue briefs.
- Adhere to clinic procedures for patient scheduling & access.
- Respond to critical lab/diagnostic test result notifications in a timely manner.
- Ensure all encounters are closed the same day the visit was made, and complete documentation requirements in CPRS in a timely manner.
- Maintain and upkeep credentials required for privileging and re-privileging, and achieve competencies and performance as approved by the professional board.
- Assure appropriate oversight of delegated care activities of Nurse Practitioner, Pharm D in your team.
- Provide cross coverage to physicians within the approved and recommended privileges by the Professional Standards Board.
- Communicate the plan of coverage to the team members when taking leave of absence.
- Complete training requirements, employee health requirements and Environmental and Occupational requirements.
Clinical:
- Provide clinical input and oversight for patients' treatment plans.
- Be readily available to the team members for collaboration when medical or other problems arise.
- Assure that care is provided in a timely manner and in an appropriate setting, which is in accordance with accepted practices and is evidenced based. - Assure appropriate oversight of delegated care activities of Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharm D's and others practicing with a "scope of practice".
- Complete documentation of patient's visit with appropriate encounters in CPRS in a timely manner.
- Facilitate appropriate consultation and implementation of consultant recommendations.
- Address issues related to infection control including skin testing, immunization and infection prevention.
- Provide cross coverage to the different clinical GEC services within the approved and recommended privileges by the Professional Standards Board. - The Practitioner is expected to remain privileged and practicing in his//her specialty field.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards .
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting