Summary This position is eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one - five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities Provides comprehensive patient care in the form of consultative inpatient and outpatient Gastroenterology patient care at the VA Manchester Healthcare System. The staff Gastroenterologist always works within her or his privileges. Must be qualified to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with gastrointestinal diseases according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods, and techniques. The Gastroenterologist is expected to maintain current knowledge and skills. She or he must be able to deliver interventions throughout the full spectrum of gastroenterology care, i.e. she or he is expected to maintain a high level of diagnostic and therapeutic acumen. Reports to Chief of Medicine. Practices independently, using professional judgment and expertise to make decisions about services and treatment provided to Veterans. Consults with the supervisor as needed and with colleagues to develop knowledge and apply agency policies and practices to new matters. His/her work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance with procedures and practices applicable to the subject. Primary duties include performance of general gastroenterology clinical assessments on established and newly consulted patients, plus a full range of routine upper and lower GI endoscopy. The Gastroenterologist ensures a high level of communication with patients, referring providers, nursing staff and support staff. Responsibilities include: Completion of medical records in accordance with Medical Staff Bylawsand compliance with VA Rules and Regulations. Participation in quality assurance programs and chart reviews Participation in performance improvement projects Participation in care audits and peer reviews Demonstration of corporate citizenship by serving as a leader and/or active member on Medical Center committees as requested Attendance at Medical Service Staff meetings Participation in teaching programs for medical students and residents Maintenance of Basic Life Support (BLS) Maintenance of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) if required by role and responsibilities Participation in Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) processes as a practicing clinician and also as a chart reviewer for professional colleagues Completion of all mandatory trainings by due date Work Schedule: Work hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no after- hour on-call responsibility. CUSTOMER SERVICE Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Per the DEMAND EXCELLENCE employee creed, takes the necessary steps to promptly correct problems discovered. AGE, DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18 to the elderly adult, age 85 and over. Age-related and cultural interventions appropriate to cognitive, physical, and emotional needs will be employed at all times, tailored to the individual patient, incorporating knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development. The Gastroenterologist must be poised, articulate, adaptive and respectful in communicating with and caring for people of varied educational, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Care will be provided to Veterans without discrimination or harassment, tailored to his/her needs, regardless of a Veteran's age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, or sexual orientation. Knows how to obtain translation services for patient or families with limited English language proficiency or who need sign language services. ELECTRONIC SECURITY Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHSRA policy. Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement that the employee signs. 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 See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G2. The staff Gastroenterologist must be board certified/eligible in Gastroenterology. Must be qualified to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with gastrointestinal diseases according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods, and techniques. Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification (ACLS) required if supervising administration of moderate sedation. Basic requirements include: Citizen of the United States. Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with Department of Veterans Affairs 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. Completion of residency training or its equivalent, approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certifications. Proficiency in spoken and written English. 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.