Summary

The physician is assigned under the PALMS at Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System (VA HCS) to perform duties as a Pathologist for Anatomical and/or Clinical Pathology.

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
• Additional Requirement: The physician must be Board Certified in Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology and possess an active license in any state or territory in the United States - and must maintain privileges at all times at the Ann Arbor VAAA HCS - and maintain professional competency as indicated in their delineation of privileges Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Evaluation of physical - cognitive - and emotional fitness of candidates for appointment in VA is required prior to appointment
• Candidates must be capable of interactions with patients and health care personnel in a caring and professional manner
• The candidate must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads - to function effectively under stress - to adapt to changing environments - and to display flexibility.

Duties

• Pathologists working in the Department of Pathology at the Ann Arbor VA HCS must be Board Certified in Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology
• Additional training or experience in another subspecialty is highly encouraged
• Staff Pathologist will perform the following Core tasks: The physician will maintain professionalism - work ethic and responsibility to VA mission - Vision - and Core Values and coordinate and collaborate with the Ann Arbor VA HCS Chief of Pathology to meet the VA mission - to include provision of patient care in the context of a Patient Centered Care model
• Participate in Surgical Pathology - Cytopathology - Autopsy services - and Clinical Pathology
• Not all pathologists are expected to function in all disciplines
• The work assignment will depend upon training - expertise - competency - specialty training and/or certification
• Participate in Multidisciplinary on-site interdepartmental conferences such as tumor board etc
• Offsite conferences need to be approved by the service chief first
• Participate in QA - Performance and dashboards for pathology and for Ann Arbor VA HCS
• On-call 24/7 (Anatomic and/or Clinical) as delineated in monthly rotation schedule Required to participate in training and supervision of trainees and Residents
• Any changes made to the schedule need to be coordinated among the pathologists
• Swapping of service schedule and on-call is the responsibility of pathologist initiating the request
• Under all circumstances service needs to be covered
• The office of the service chief needs to be aware of any change (approval is not required just notification to ensure coverage of the service) Professional overseeing of lab operations (Anatomic and/or Clinical)
• Participate in departmental meetings - QA process or task delegated by Chief of Service to achieve the mission of Pathology and Lab Medicine Services and VA
• Provide support and educational interactions to pathology staff (technicians - transcriptionists - technologists - supervisors - lab managers and administrative staff) Inform the Chief of service for leave approval - tour of duty - time off from regular tour of duty or any related issues
• Meet turnaround time requirements for surgical - Non-Gyn cytology - Gyn cytology - FNA - autopsy - or other cases as defined by VHA pathology policy and performance measures
• To serve on medical center committees representing Pathology
• Fulfill obligations in completing mandatory training - competency - computer skills (work related) Maintains patient privacy and medical record in accordance with VHA policies
• Fulfilling all requirements related to accrediting agencies such as and not limited to CAP - The Joint Commission (TJC) - FDA - AABB - and VHA pathology policies and procedures
• Adhere to policies and procedures for VHA in general and medical center in specific
• The physician will be responsible to ensure that the staff and trainees meet VHA performance measure goals
• The physician may also be assigned duty as a supervising or collaborating physician for one or more mid-level providers
• The physician will participate on hospital committees as assigned
• Pathologists are responsible for providing Comprehensive Pathology Care for Veterans
• The provider should - in the context of a longitudinal relationship - fulfill all pathology care needs including gender and age specific Pathology conditions and diagnosis
• The pathologist will coordinate and communicate with the clinical provider regarding the diagnosis to ensure continuity of care
• All physicians are responsible to have read the Medical Staff Bylaws and to comply with the Bylaws
• All physicians are responsible to timely completion of all mandatory training
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m.)