Physician-Hospitalist

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, AR

13h

About The Position

The Physician-Hospitalist provides general internal medicine care to hospitalized patients, including assessment, management, and treatment of acute exacerbations of illness and minor medical changes. The role manages patients efficiently, with attention to length of stay and care transitions, and performs admission histories and physical examinations. The Hospitalist rounds on medical wards, coordinates patient care and academic bedside rounds, and supervises and evaluates medical residents. The role also provides consultative care to surgical-service patients when requested and responds to after-hours medical calls from the community living center, behavioral health, and intensive outpatient rehabilitation. The position works as part of a multidisciplinary team caring for Veterans and advocates for inpatient initiatives that improve quality, safety, and patient experience.

The work schedule is Thursday through Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on a week-on/week-off rotation. This is an open continuous announcement that may be extended until the position is filled; eligible applications may be referred periodically as vacancies arise.

The position may be eligible for a recruitment incentive for highly qualified applicants and for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. EDRP may provide up to $200,000 in student loan repayment over an eligibility period of one to five years. The role offers competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, paid time off, federal retirement benefits, federal insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Applicants must meet the physician basic requirements, including a qualifying medical degree, a current full and unrestricted U.S. medical license, approved residency training or an applicable alternative pathway, and proficiency in spoken and written English. Appointment is subject to applicable citizenship, background, testing, onboarding, physical evaluation, and vaccination requirements.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited school.
• 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 approved 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 recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Applicants selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation, online onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification may be required for physicians involved in academic training programs seeking faculty status.
• Highly qualified applicants may be eligible for a recruitment incentive.
• Full-time physicians with board certification may be eligible for possible CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year.

Responsibilities

• Provide general internal medicine care, including patient assessment and management and treatment of acute exacerbations of illness and minor medical changes.
• Manage patients efficiently with attention to length of stay and care transitions.
• Perform rounds on medical wards and coordinate patient care and academic bedside rounds.
• Supervise and evaluate medical residents.
• Advocate for inpatient initiatives to improve quality, safety, and patient experience.
• Perform patient histories and physical examinations on hospital admission.
• Provide consultative management of surgical-service patients when requested.
• Respond to after-hours medical calls from the community living center, behavioral health, and intensive outpatient rehabilitation.
• Work with physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, clinical pharmacists, physical therapists, registered nurses, and support staff to provide Veteran care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan repayment, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Possible recruitment incentive for highly qualified applicants.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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 malpractice 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree