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Summary The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Physician Physiatrist, is responsible for patient care, patient/family education, and participation in any indicated clinical research in PM&R. The Physiatrist at VCB provides comprehensive care for patients with illnesses within the scope of ambulatory PM&R care. Responsibilities Majority of the Physician's time is devoted to patient care and education, including maintaining proficiency in the broad spectrum of ambulatory PM&R care. Remaining time is set aside for performance improvement activities and potential research to improve patient care. Most of the work takes place at the Health Care Center (HCC) in Harlingen, but travel may be required to other sites within the health care system to meet patient needs. Perform administrative duties required for performance measures or improvement activities, compliance with accrediting organizations, or other duties as assigned. Serve as preceptor for health care students rotating through the outpatient clinics. Lecture or make presentations on Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation to clinic staff. Participate in clinical research. Participate in emergency preparedness activities as a result of national health disasters. Participate in various committees involving wound care, skin integrity, pain, non-invasive procedures. Respond promptly to any requested information for such as Medical Advisory Opinions, congressional inquiries, peer reviews from other facilities. Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, X-rays, electromyography/Nerve conduction studies(EMG/NCV), electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other tests when clinically indicated. Consult other disciplines, as necessary, to complete the patient examination; e.g. various med/surg specialties, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, neuropsychological testing, audiology and speech/language pathology testing, vision testing, dental evaluation, psychosocial evaluation, etc. Actively direct amputee/spinal cord/and wheelchair clinics within scope of practice and resources in ambulatory setting. Carry out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making. Write Medical Orders and prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances, as necessary, for the care of the patient in accordance with Federal and State law. Document care provided in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) in accordance with VCB Health Care System requirements. Obtain consent and documents procedures performed. Provide education and counseling to patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Recruitment/Relocation Incentive authorized for highly qualified individuals 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: Full-time; Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until the closing date or until the position is filled. Eligible applications received will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until the position is filled. 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. Education: 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. Licensure: 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. English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: -Board eligible/certified in PM&R -Outstanding clinical and refined interpersonal skills -Experience in the diagnosis and treatment of general outpatient PM&R related diagnoses including spinal cord injury, limb loss, stroke and brain injury -Preferred NCS/EMG and botulinum toxin procedure experience. -Preferred 2+ years clinical experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling (2 hours), pushing (2 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (2 hours), standing (4 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception, and hearing (aid permitted). 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. 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.