ASHHRA Career Center

The Compensation and Pension Service is responsible for conducting quality C&P examinations in a timely manner at the request of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). 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: None Preferred Experience: None 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: Periods of long standing. Occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects. Long periods of sitting at a computer station. Rigid deadlines and the need for high degree of accuracy, high stress situations, and the ability to adapt work plans based on patient status. ["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 5% 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 The Compensation and Pension Service is responsible for conducting quality C&P examinations in a timely manner at the request of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The purpose of those exams is to provide accurate medical information, clinical evidence and diagnosis as well as medical opinions when requested to the VBA for the establishment of a rating decision about a veteran or family member entitlement/ or not entitlement to VA monetary benefits based in the degree of disability related to condition(s) diagnosed. Duty Location: Iowa City Federal Building. Duties:\na. Collect and report medical information following established protocols (DBQ, Medical opinions, etc.)\nb. Conduct examinations using the disability criteria and elements, including completion of any requested electronic examination at CAPRI\nc. Compensation and Pension Record Interchange worksheets and or Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ's)\nd. Perform VA Virtual Care examinations as necessary\ne. Order any required test and procedures to establish diagnosis for rating purposes\nf. Review and document test results (laboratories, x-rays and others) prior to release the examination report. Notify the primary provider and the veteran regarding any abnormal report\ng. Provide an accurate diagnosis based in the available evidence and examination with description of residual conditions that are at issue for the examination requested and/or suggested by veteran at the time of exam, if there is reasonably related to an existing service-connected disability or claimed condition\nh. Explained reasons for not providing a definite diagnosis if can't reach one\ni. Maintain all the mandatory trainings and licenses\nj. Complete special assignments as Action Items for medical opinion in a timely manner and with requested documentation\nk. Complete DBQ's from the walk-in DBQ Referral Clinics following the established SOP\nl. Complete the exams for Vocational Rehabilitation program as requested using the CPRS electronic note m. Participate in staff meetings, educational activities as well as other requested administrative activities Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; tour to be discussed during the interview process."]