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Physician (Path and Lab Chief)

Veterans Health Administration | Charleston, SC

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Posted Date 3/21/2024
Description This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will close on September 30, 2024 or until filled or cancelled. Qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official at two-week intervals. The first referral will be sent on April 4, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. This announcement may close without prior notification.The Ralph h. Johnson VAHCS Laboratory is a 1a innovative Joint Commission accredited laboratory, that services more than 75,000 Veterans. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System has 152 beds, a 20-bed nursing home unit, an Emergency Department, outpatients, and 6 community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Major research areas include cardiology, endocrinology, diabetes, Hematology/oncology, rheumatology, nephrology, alcohol-related disorders, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, aging, rural health, stroke injury, and soon to come MOHS and transplant services.

The Lab operates 24/7/365 and has three 8-hour shifts. (TODs: 3 shifts, Day Shift (0700-1530 or 0800-1630), Evening Shift (1500-1100 or 1600-1200), and Midnight Shift (1100-0700 or 1200-0800)

We have a state-of-the-art Lab with the latest equipment. The clinical Lab performed almost 4 million tests in 2023. We have a robust point of care (Ancillary testing) program and a Lab informatics section. In 2023 the Anatomic Pathology lab processed 17438 specimens (8983 Accessions) biopsies and resections of varying complexity and 3682 Cytology specimens (3678 accessions) including Pap smears and non-gyn specimens including >500 Fine needle aspirates (EUS, EBUS Interventional radiology). The Pathologists provide rapid onsite assessment as needed.

The Lab has 46 Medical technologists with a mix of bench level techs to Section/shift supervisors and a Lab manager. Additionally, there are 7 Medical lab technicians in the Clinical Lab. The Anatomic pathology section has 5 histology technicians, 2 cytologists, a Pathology assistant, and a supervisor. The office is staffed by 2 administrative assistants and a program analyst who helps with budget and contracts. Besides the Chief of Pathology and laboratory Medicine there are 4.5 AP/CP boarded Pathologists and one 1/8th Dermatopathologist.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized
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 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 (must be full-time with board certification)
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

For the Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, duties include but are not limited to:
  • Directly or indirectly supervises all individuals in the service.
  • Performs pathological procedures on pathology specimens including fixing, gross examination, orientation, cutting and dissecting, photographing, and sectioning of patient autopsy, biopsy and surgical specimens.
  • Diagnose presence and stage of diseases through patient sample examination utilizing various laboratory techniques.
  • Completes, or supervises completion of, interim and annual performance appraisals on all individuals on the service ORG chart.
  • Participates in the new employee Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) process, and in the Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) process. Participates in the FPPE-for-cause process if required.
  • Completes, or supervises completion of, new employee FPPEs, OPPEs and FPPE-for -cause) on all physicians on the service ORG chart.
  • Organizes quality assessment and quality improvement initiatives including but not limited to a 10% retrospective review of all anatomic pathology cases. Participates in facility Quality Management activities.
  • Performs and directs others who perform coding of surgical reports with CPT and SNOMED codes.
  • Participates in VISN1 Pathology Group activities, reporting critical incidents and other required information to the VISN Chief Pathology Consultant.
  • Organizes and chairs monthly Pathology Staff meetings.
  • Participates in facility High Reliability Organization (HRO) activities.
  • Participates in selected committees as designated by the Chief of Staff (e.g. Peer Review Committee, Electronic Health Records Committee, Medical Executive Council, etc.)
  • Monitors and manages timely PLMS test result reporting.
  • Ensures all pathology tissue reporting is completed timely with results communicated accurately and timely based on Directive and clinical compelling nature.
  • Participates in education and training of pathology residents, medical students, and staff, as applicable.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pmTo 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), b) 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.
Preferred Experience: VA Leadership experience.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. There is ongoing exposure to individuals having psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities. These include violent or aggressive behavior and chronic psychiatric and medical problems. Light lifting under 15 pounds, light carrying under 15 pounds, and hearing (aid permitted).
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