Physician-Infectious Disease

Summary

The Infectious Disease Physician directs and oversees the clinical functions of the Infection Control Program for VA Bedford HCS. This includes the oversight of clinical and administrative care services regarding the surveillance, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and other infectious diseases at the VA Bedford HCS.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/02/2024 to 05/13/2024

• Salary

$200,000 - $300,000 per year

Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay)

• Pay scale & grade

AD 15

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Bedford, MA 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Part-time -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

15

• Job family (Series)

0602 Medical Officer

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTD-12360611-24-DF

• Control number

784511500

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

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Duties

Infection Control Program Responsibilities:

• Development and implementation of hospital wide infection surveillance, prevention, and control policies and procedures that adhere to law and regulation and nationally recognized guidelines. Includes relevant federal, state, and local law and regulations including but not limited to: FDA regulations, OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards, PPE and Respiratory Protection Standard, healthcare worker vaccination laws, state and local authority requirements for mandated reporting of communicable diseases and outbreaks, nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines and standards of practice, including The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings

• Responsible for the implementation, performance, and sustainability of the infection prevention and control program

• Communication and collaboration with the hospital's quality assessment and performance improvement program to address infection prevention and control issues. Ensures that the problems identified by the infection prevention and control program are addressed in collaboration with hospital quality assessment and performance improvement leaders.

• Oversees policies and procedures for infectious disease outbreaks. Updates and authors policies related to infectious disease outbreaks as needed.

• Development and implementation of protocols for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens.

Quality Management:

• Chairs Infection Control Committee

• Generates reports related to Infection Control

• Contributes to an effective quality management system which includes process improvement, innovative system redesign. Leads process improvement projects as directed by Chief of Staff and Chief of Specialty and Acute Care.

• Oversees the establishment of program monitors, outcomes measurements, and performance measures within Infection Control Program

• Ensures infection surveillance and prevention meets standards as outlined by governing agencies including Joint Commission.

• Makes recommendations for staffing, space, equipment, and other resources while adhering to the budgetary constraints

Clinical Responsibilities:

• The Infectious Disease physician is credentialed and privileged as appropriate by the facility. Accepts consults regarding infectious disease medical conditions and sees patients independently. Consults with and serves as a resource for other professional staff on infectious disease medical issues.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay)

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

Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided

Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Infection Control Program Responsibilities:

This position is for an Infectious Disease Physician who will be a member and advisor of the Infection Control Program at Bedford VAMC. Position is 80% administrative, 20% clinical. Will report to Chief of Specialty and Acute Care. Administrative Duties include overseeing inpatient infection control, consulting with clinical teams on infection prevention, management throughout Bedford VAMC; Overseeing Infection Control meetings; providing recommendations to Leadership regarding Infection Control requirements, recommending mitigation strategies as needed; overseeing and coordinating isolation units when outbreaks occur on inpatient units. Generates reports related to Infection Control at Bedford VAMC. Responsible for leading process improvement initiatives as Directed by Chief of Specialty and Acute Care and Chief of Staff. Clinical Duties include seeing patients in consultation for all Infectious Disease conditions.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 20 Hrs per week, TBD

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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)

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.

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: This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. Physical demands include some physical exertion including periods of walking, standing, regular and recurring bending, stooping, lifting equipment or objects such as assisting patients on and off examination tables.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Financial Disclosure Report:Not required

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.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets

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• Veterans' Preference.