Job Board

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) at Houston is a designated VA Epilepsy Center of Excellence and is seeking a junior or mid-level Epileptologist as part of their multidisciplinary Epilepsy team and Neurology Department. The MEDVAMC Epilepsy program is one of the largest VA Epilepsy programs nationally supporting a 4-bed epilepsy monitoring unit, ICU monitoring, Tele-EEG services and outpatient and inpatient Epilepsy consultations. 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. Preferred Experience: Completed fellowship in Epilepsy or Neurophysiology Board Certified or Board Eligible in Neurology Possesses the knowledge of epilepsy, Neurology and advanced neurophysiology procedures and equipment such as: EEG (routine, long-term) Video EEG monitoring (including Phase 1 and Phase 2 monitoring) Seizure detection and spike analysis software Expertise in the management of seizures and epilepsy Expertise in the management of common conditions in Neurology and can educate a variety of learners 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 Requirements of this position are concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and may include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies. Physician applicants must have the mental and physical ability to perform core privileges required by the specialty position in addition to any specialty privileges requested. Position requires walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting. Work requires daily trips from employee's work-area to other areas throughout the Joint Ambulatory Care Center. ["The primary role of this physician with Epilepsy training will be to cover the four bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) that may be expanded to five beds. This physician will be in a rotation to read spot and continuous EEGs. This physician is also expected to be part of a team covering resident/fellow epilepsy clinic. The physician will have an epilepsy clinic with their own panel of patients. In a secondary role the Physician is expected to be on the Ward and/or Consult services in 2-week blocks while not covering EMU. Duties for this position include but are not limited to: Assess the needs and plan intervention for individuals/families Facilitates the delivery of care expected from a Epilepsy subspecialist and a general Neurologist Performing initial histories and physical examinations Screening outpatients to determine the need for further Neurological Care Ordering diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, EEGs, EMGs and other electrodiagnostic tests Performing and supervising Lumbar Punctures Performing specialty specific tests such as NIHSS, MMSE/MOCA, as appropriate Assists individuals/families to achieve optimal levels of health through collaboration with medical and health care professionals Exercises medical decision-making and provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for a specific group of patients Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and findings from research and/or studies Involved in direct patient care, patient and family teaching, staff education and multidisciplinary consultations and collaborations Participates in education of PA students, NPs, Fellows, Residents, and Medical Students Supervise mid-level practitioners as assigned Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill multi-symptomatic patients Serves as a resource person for standards development in health care in the area of quality improvement concerns Initiating and expediting requests for consultations and scheduling special tests and studies Provides education and counseling of patients and families in neurological conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs Be proficient in other components of patient management such as charting, progress notes, signatures, preparation of consults, referrals, telephone consults with specialists at the Medical Center that are an integral part of the clinical team Integrate both mandated health screening and guidelines for treatment into the practice The physician will have basic proficiency with a computer and willingness to learn VA's EMR Clinic progress notes will be completed on the same or within 24 hours of seeing a patient. Progress notes of patients seen by trainees will be signed in a timely fashion Performs other duties as assigned VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 4% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting\nWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm May include extended hours and weekends when assigned weekend Ward service. On Call Requirement: On selected after-hours and weekends"]