Summary

The Orthopedic Surgery Department staff surgeon reports to the Chief - Orthopedic Surgery Section - Surgical Service. A staff surgeon routinely: performs outpatient and inpatient orthopedic surgery examinations determines diagnoses initiates treatments based on orthopedic surgery education and standards of care. The staff orthopedic surgeon serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees.

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) - 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: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires a full range of physical activity - including lifting and carrying - pulling - pushing - reaching at and above the shoulders - use of both hands and fingers - walking - standing - sitting - kneeling - repeated bending - and ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Adequate hearing (aid permitted) - mental and emotional stability required.

Duties

• 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 paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave) 11 paid Federal holidays per year possible 5 day paid absence for Continuing Medical Education (CME) CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Duties: Apply a wide range of professional theories - assessment methods and techniques to care for critically ill patients and those with orthopedic surgical problems
• Develop coherent treatment strategies
• Incorporate new clinical procedures
• Provide professional advice and consultation in critical care areas related to treatment of orthopedic surgical conditions
• Effectively supervise and manage professional staff - especially residents and Advanced Practice Providers
• Assess qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees
• Interpersonal relationships - including conflict resolution and the ability to work collaboratively with other physicians and providers from a wide array of clinical services - specialties and departments
• Effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests - and points of view
• Diagnose and treat medical and surgical disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care
• Responsible for initial evaluation and overall workups - history & physicals - and admission of orthopedic surgery patients as needed
• Clinical duties include but are not limited to Operating Room (experience in wide variety of standard orthopedic surgical procedures and operations including arthroscopy) - in-patient rounds - Emergency Room and Outpatient Clinics
• The orthopedic surgeon will be able to perform a wide variety of orthopedic surgical procedures
• May also supervise residents from the Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program - Mayo Clinic and other training programs - as well as medical students from University of Arizona - Mayo Clinic and Podiatry students and residents who rotate through the Orthopedic Surgery Service
• Required to participate in all surgical quality/performance improvement initiatives as appropriate - including VASQIP
• Participate in orthopedic surgery night call and perform emergency orthopedic surgical procedures
• Responsible for providing patients with education concerning their disease state and treatment regimen
• The orthopedic surgeon will assess Veterans' risks and benefits associated with surgical procedures - and will provide appropriate informed consent so Veterans fully understand the important risks and benefits of surgical intervention
• Complete all electronic - clinical - daily charting and documentation required by the Medical Center in a timely manner as appropriate - including outcomes reporting as appropriate
• Consult with Medical Center staff on many patient care issues
• Strongly enforces a policy of full disclosure
• If there is a complication in the course of a patient's care - the general surgeon will discuss the untoward event - including the patient's options for second medical opinion or legal action - and will document these discussions in the chart (CPRS)
• Maintain her/his medical license and specialty certification - and the requisite CME requirements
• Work effectively with patients and coworkers - and will treat other health care professionals and patients' family with respect and dignity
• Report administratively and clinically to the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery
• In addition - this individual may report to the Chief of Surgery for the program(s) to which she/he is assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:00 am to 4:30 pm - compressed work schedule with four 10-hour duty days is optional