Physician-Anesthesiologist

Veterans Health Administration • Little Rock, AR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) is a Department of Veterans Affairs health care provider with hospitals in Little Rock and North Little Rock and a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services. The system serves as a teaching facility and provides care to Arkansas Veterans through hospitals, community-based outpatient clinics, home-based primary care, and other services.

The staff Anesthesiologist provides preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthesia care for inpatient and ambulatory patients undergoing scheduled, urgent, or emergency procedures. Care includes the use of monitored anesthesia care (MAC), regional, and general anesthesia for patients across ASA classes 1 through 5. The role also includes postoperative ventilator management in recovery and, in some cases, the ICU; anesthesia-related direct patient care in operating rooms, intensive care units, wards, and other clinic settings; and potential critical-care work as part of a multidisciplinary team. The Anesthesiologist may contribute to planning programs and setting objectives, policies, and standards for quality anesthetic care.

The regular work schedule is 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with on-call coverage from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays. This position may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and, for testing-designated positions, pre-employment urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Must complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification and all required application documents.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Board certified or board eligible.
• Experience working with anesthesia residents and Student Nurse Anesthetists.
• Experience working in a collaborative team model of anesthesia care.
• Ability to perform the clinical and technical aspects of anesthesia care, with in-depth knowledge of anesthesia methods and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Assess, consult with, and prepare patients for anesthesia, including preoperative examinations, postoperative assessments, intraoperative anesthetic plans, and related documentation.
• Provide anesthesia and pain prevention during surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures, and manage patients receiving anesthesia.
• Monitor and restore homeostasis during the perioperative period, including for critically or seriously ill and injured patients.
• Diagnose and treat painful syndromes.
• Manage emergency situations, including airway management, administration of emergency fluids and medications, and appropriate resuscitation procedures.
• Provide postoperative care, including ventilator management in recovery and, in some cases, the ICU.
• Provide anesthesia-related direct patient care in operating rooms, intensive care units, wards, and other clinic settings as needed; may provide critical-care care as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Supervise, teach, and evaluate medical and paramedical personnel in anesthesia, respiratory care, critical care, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Conduct research and collaborate on clinical and basic-science research efforts.
• Participate in administrative activities and in developing and implementing efficient, cost-effective quality-care initiatives, including policies, procedures, protocols, and ad hoc committee work.
• Perform on-call coverage, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• May participate in program planning and establish objectives, policies, and standards for quality anesthetic care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student-loan repayment, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree