Evansville, IN VA Health Care Center is seeking a part-time Orthopedic Surgeon

The Orthopedic Surgeon will diagnose and treat all the common musculoskeletal conditions, to include surgical and non-surgical management of diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. The incumbent provides care of the Veterans' medical needs by performing examination, surgical consultation, and developing treatment and follow-up plans. The Orthopedic surgeon will prescribe medications, order diagnostic studies such as lab tests, imaging, electrocardiograms (EKGs) and enters specialty consults as needed. The incumbent physician will provide ongoing patient and family education throughout the course of treatment. Each member of the Surgery Department functions as a cooperative and collegial team member with the entire medical center staff.

The incumbent must adhere to all service/facility workflow processes, procedures, protocols and policies regarding the completion of all required operation/procedure notes/reports, orders, progress notes, clinical reminders, all other required medical documentation, and performance measures in a timely fashion. Incumbent will ensure the most effective delivery of care, while meeting and exceeding compliance, Joint Commission and VA Central Office performance measure standards.

Clinical duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Treat diseases, disorders, and conditions of the musculoskeletal system both medically and surgically.
• Provides quality patient care to outpatients as assigned.
• Assesses Veterans by utilizing advanced clinical judgment and physical assessment skills.
• Identifies acute, non-acute or chronic health problems.
• Uses principles of risk management to identify system issues which impact on patient care.
• Orders and evaluates appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Informs patients in order to accomplish shared decision-making in medical treatment/regimes.
• Provides appropriate disposition of identified health care problems.
• Participates in Surgery Service multi-disciplinary activities.
• Keeps informed of development in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal.
• Successfully integrates identified medical needs with other patient care programs at the medical center and in the community.
• Consistently demonstrates medical expertise in diagnosis in and treating multi-symptomatic patients.
• Adheres to local medical center policies or VHA Directives related to clinical alerts and service level agreements with other specialized services within the medical center.
• Our Veterans are typically between 18 and 75 years of age. This position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the particular needs of these types of patients. Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients in respect to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved.
• The Orthopedic surgeon will directly supervise staff in clinical situations: Mid-level providers, RNs, LPNs and on occasion other trainees. No supervisory responsibilities such as disciplinary actions, written performance evaluations or time and leave approval are expected for this position.

Administrative duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Participates and attends medical center committees assigned by the Chief of Surgery Service or Chief of Staff.
• Assists in the development and implementation of care programs in Surgery Service.
• Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services such as Process Action Teams or other Patient Safety or Quality Improvement Assignments.
• Participates in Surgery Service Peer Reviews when requested.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

The VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, was built in 1942. Our present Health Care System provides care to 49,000 veterans annually in 27 counties in Southern Illinois, 8 counties in Southwestern Indiana, and 17 counties in Northwest Kentucky.

The VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, is a general medical and surgical facility that operates 55 acute care beds and a 60 bed Community Living Center. Ten Outpatient Clinics that provide primary care and behavioral medicine services are located in Harrisburg; Carbondale; Effingham; and Mt. Vernon, IL; Paducah; Madisonville; Owensboro; and Mayfield, Kentucky; Vincennes and Evansville, IN.