Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Physician (Director of Cardiac Anesthesia) in Houston, Texas
Summary The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) located in Houston, Texas, is recruiting a fulltime Director for Cardiac Anesthesia. MEDVAMC is a large multi-specialty facility affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Anesthesiology Residency Program, Baylor College of Medicine Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) program, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Medical School, and University of Texas Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) program. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. 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 Duties include: The position will provide anesthesia coverage for all specialties of surgery, beside specializing in cardiac surgeries in a care team approach. Must have experience with anesthetic management for cardiac, Thoracic, and major vascular procedures and providing anesthesia for insertion of ventricular assist devices and ECMO. This position will also be experienced in performing neuraxial (epidural and spinal) anesthesia. Additional responsibilities include the provision of anesthetic care including transesophageal echocardiography for Non-Cardiac Anesthesia Procedures. As Director of Cardiac Anesthesia, the incumbent will be responsible for writing and updating standard Operating Procedures for the Cardiac anesthesia section. Also, responsible for coordinating with the residency site director and education committee the development of resident education curriculum. Educational responsibilities: Coordinating with the residency site director and education committee the development of resident education curriculum and actively participate in the evaluation of residents rotating through the VA anesthesiology department. 1. Supervisory Controls The Director of Cardiac Anesthesia reports directly to the Chief of Anesthesiology or designee at MEDVAMC. 2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) a. Comprehensive medical management of patients to be rendered unconscious or insensitive to pain and stress during surgical, dental, and certain medical procedures including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative examination, consultation, management, monitoring, evaluation and treatment. b. Knowledge and expertise in the following anesthesia core requirements: assessing, consulting, and preparing patients for anesthesia; rendering patients insensible to pain during surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures; monitoring and restoring homeostasis in perioperative and critically ill patients; diagnosing and treating painful syndromes; managing cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation. c. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff and management officials. 4. Clinical Responsibilities (80% of time) a. Administration of general anesthesia (inhalation and intravenous) including invasive monitoring. b. Administration of regional anesthesia including spinal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks. c. Placement of venous catheters d. Placement of arterial catheters and interpretation of arterial pressures and waveforms. e. Placement of pulmonary artery catheters and interpretation of pressures/wave forms f. Airway management including cricothyroidotomy g. Management of ventilator dependent patients and one lung ventilation h. Expertise in the following anesthesia core requirements: assessing, consulting, and preparing patients for anesthesia; rendering patients insensible to pain during surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures; monitoring and restoring homeostasis in perioperative and critically ill patients; diagnosing and treating painful syndromes; managing cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation. Communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff and management officials. i. Supervision of CRNA staff, physician residents, SRNAs and medical students in the comprehensive medical management of patients. 5. Academic/Teaching/Training: (10% of time) a. Teaching medical students, residents and SRNAs as required. b. Taking part in departmental Journal Club and M & M activities. c. Initiate QA projects focused on cardiovascular disease. d. Teaching and training of other medical and paramedical personnel including but not limited to Respiratory Therapist, Critical Care Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses, etc. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, (Post Call, Late Shift, weekend, 24 hour call). Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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), 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. Basic Life Support is required Board certified or board eligible Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Additional Requirement: 1. Completed Fellowship training in cardiac anesthesia. 2. National Board of Echocardiography-Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal echocardiography certification 3. Ensuring ongoing excellent clinical care of cardiac surgical and interventional patients, both in personal clinical practice and in supervision of the clinical care provided by the cardiac anesthesiologists. 4. Experience with delivering anesthesia for cardiac surgery patients including coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular lesions, aortic surgery, mechanical assist devices, structural heart procedures, and liver transplant. 5.Providing strong mentorship and support for both the quality and growth of research and other academic endeavors of cardiac anesthesia faculty. 6.Promoting high quality clinical education of medical students, anesthesiology residents, and SRNAs. 7.Fostering local, national and international professional leadership by the cardiac anesthesia faculty. 8. Continuing and welcoming collaborations between the cardiac anesthesiologists and members of other medical specialties in order to develop highest quality multidisciplinary clinical and research approaches to clinical problems. 9.Continuing and welcoming collaboration between MEDVAMC cardiac anesthesia and Baylor's department of anesthesiology. 10. Experience of providing anesthesia for vascular surgery (open and endoscopic), orthopedic surgery (total joint arthroplasty and fractures), elecrophysiology and interventional cardiology procedures, Thoracic surgery, Neurosurgery, and out of operating room procedures(MRI, gastrointestinal endoscopy, bronchoscopy and interventional radiology) 11. Experience working in a collaborative team model of anesthesia care. 12. Demonstrates the ability to share expertise within or beyond the facility through leadership or as an active participant in interdisciplinary groups (e.g. committees, task forces, projects, formal teaching, publications or other professional activities). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting, 45 pounds and over Light carrying, under 15 pounds Straight pulling (1-2 hours) Pushing (1-2 hours) Reaching above shoulders Use of fingers Both hands required Walking (4-6 hours) Standing (4-6 hours) Kneeling (4-6 hours) Repeated bending (1-2 hours) Both legs required Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Both eyes required Depth perception Ability to distinguish basic colors Ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing (air may be permitted) Wear protective clothing and equipment to include radiation safety, PPE (apron, goggles and thyroid shield) on a frequent basis Environmental Factors: Outside and inside Radiant energy Electrical energy Slippery or uneven walking surfaces Working around machinery with moving parts Working closely with others Working alone Protracted or irregular hours of work Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.