Physician (Physical Medicine & Rehab)

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

1d

About The Position

The physician applies a broad range of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) theories, principles, and methods to patients with conditions including amputation, spinal cord injuries, neurological disease, and musculoskeletal disease. Clinical practice may include ultrasound-guided joint injections, EMGs, and spasticity management. The physician has working knowledge of PM&R inpatient and outpatient services, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, alternative medicine, and rehabilitation nursing, and provides guidance to those disciplines as needed. The position integrates the Service’s core values and mission into the rehabilitation process.

Clinical responsibilities include providing medically necessary care consistent with applicable medical and rehabilitative standards; explaining procedures and treatment plans to patients and caregivers; motivating and helping patients improve functional activities; teaching and supervising medical students, residents, and fellows; ensuring efficient and courteous outpatient clinics; reviewing consults according to policy; completing documentation on time; and arranging clinic coverage when absent, as assigned by the Chief, PM&RS.

Administrative work includes supporting program excellence, financial management, resource utilization, strategic plans, safety, and treatment outcomes; conducting peer reviews; participating in service and committee meetings; promoting performance improvement and preparing for inspections; collaborating with other VA services; following organizational policies; and supporting continuous process improvement in a high-reliability environment.

Educational responsibilities include teaching medical students, residents, and fellows through daily instruction, feedback, grand rounds, lectures, and presentations; educating other medical center services about PM&R programs and interventions; and maintaining current, evidence-based clinical knowledge. The position’s stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and approval. EDRP awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or 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 alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required background/security checks and pre-employment procedures, including a physical evaluation and, for testing-designated positions, urinalysis.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Board-certified or board-eligible in the relevant specialty.
• Experience in general PM&R outpatient care, including EMG/NCS, ultrasound-guided joint injections, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.
• Acupuncture certification.
• For CME reimbursement, full-time status and board certification are specified as conditions.

Responsibilities

• Apply PM&R expertise to patients with amputation, spinal cord injuries, neurological disease, and musculoskeletal disease, including through EMGs, ultrasound-guided joint injections, and spasticity management.
• Provide medically necessary patient care that meets applicable medical and rehabilitative standards.
• Explain therapy procedures and treatment plans to patients and caregivers, and motivate them to follow indicated regimens and post-discharge activities.
• Instruct, motivate, and assist patients to learn and improve functional activities.
• Provide clinical instruction and supervision to medical students, residents, and fellows as appropriate.
• Ensure PM&R outpatient clinics operate efficiently and provide timely, courteous service to Veterans and caregivers.
• Review inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation consults according to policy and complete patient-care documentation on time.
• Arrange and communicate clinic coverage when a provider is absent, as assigned by the Chief, PM&RS.
• Support program excellence, financial management, resource utilization, strategic plans, safety, and treatment outcomes.
• Conduct peer reviews as assigned and attend required Service and committee meetings, providing input as needed.
• Promote performance improvement and assist with preparation for applicable inspections.
• Collaborate with leaders across VA services to promote rehabilitation services and interventions for appropriate patients.
• Follow Service, medical center, VISN, and Central Office policies and procedures; support ICARE core values and continuous process improvement.
• Teach medical students, residents, and fellows through daily teaching, feedback, grand rounds, lectures, and presentations.
• Educate other medical center Services about PM&R programs and interventions that can improve patient function and outcomes.
• Participate in educational activities to maintain current knowledge and provide evidence-based care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive 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 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and a possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension after five years of vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement, subject to full-time status and board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

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