Summary

Pathology is the specialty that uses the tools of laboratory medicine to solve disease-related problems. In the hospital setting - pathologists participate in the day-to-day care of hospital patients by providing and interpreting laboratory information to help solve diagnostic problems and to monitor the effects of treatment.

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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties for this position include but are not limited to: Contributes to the operation of effective and safe laboratories that are in compliance with standards established by the College of American Pathology (CAP) - the Joint Commission (JC) - the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
• Ensures accurate clinical laboratory test results with turn-around times (TAT) that meet the reasonable and possible expectations of the medical staff and accrediting agencies - when adequately supported with necessary resources from administration and human resources
• Performance of the clinical laboratory is monitored continuously and results recorded in the Quality Assurance (QA) minutes
• Ensures accurate anatomic pathology services (surgical pathology - cytology - and autopsy) - with TAT that meet the reasonable and possible expectations of the medical staff and accrediting agencies when adequately supported with necessary resources from administration and human resources
• TAT are monitored quarterly and reported in the QA minutes
• Promotes an effective - balanced relationship with academic affiliates that results in a joint and mutually advantageous partnership
• Ensures communication and coordination between the laboratory services and the clinical services
• Participates in the Laboratory Quality Management (QM) Plan in collaboration with the PVAMC Quality Council - addressing appropriate and practical QM needs as indicated by accreditation - internal and external sources
• Preferred Experience: Fully trained pathologist - board certified in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology
• In addition - Cytopathology certification is desirable
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Employment Type: Full Time Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 04:30pm
• Call and On Call Expectations: Pathologists are on a regular rotational schedule to take call for Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Pay Calculation: 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