Podiatrist (Surgery Forefoot)

Summary

This position is within the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Network (VISN 6), Fayetteville VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves as a Staff Podiatrist in the Department of Surgery and works within an interdisciplinary team comprising physicians, technicians, administrative, and clerical staff.

Duties

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the provision of comprehensive podiatry services and addressing the care and administrative needs of podiatric surgery patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, while adhering to established policies within the Department of Surgery. In addition to complying with national and local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements governing this healthcare system, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties, in collaboration with the Administrative Officer, section chiefs, and supervisors. Adequate time and resources are provided to ensure proficiency in administration, clinical practice, education, and research. Administrative Duties: Attending required staff meetings, communicating through the chain of command, and assisting in preparing heads-up and issue briefs related to adverse patient outcomes. Maintaining open encounters and consults, ensuring CPRS documentation compliance, and monitoring clinic management. Responsibilities also include clinic productivity, performance measures, quality and patient safety oversight, and process improvements (system redesigns). The Clinical Staff Podiatrist reports to the Chief of Surgical Services. Overseeing the Prevention of Amputations in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) program as outlined in VHA Directive 1410 Clinical Duties: The Podiatry service manages a broad range of pathological conditions with both conservative and surgical treatment options. Patients often present with severe concomitant medical conditions, mental health concerns, and chronic pain issues, requiring sound clinical judgment and effective teamwork. Attention to accuracy and detail is critical. Responsibilities include: Conducting admission histories and physicals, preoperative evaluations, orders, progress notes, aftercare plans, and discharge summaries. Maintaining privileges and practicing within their specialty field, with specific privileges approved by the Professional Standards Board. Practitioners are expected to: Patient Care: Provide compassionate, appropriate, and effective care to promote health, prevent illness, treat disease, and manage end-of-life care. Medical/Clinical Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and social sciences and apply this knowledge to patient care and education. Clinical Judgment: Utilize scientific evidence to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and healthcare team members. Professionalism: Exhibit commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, cultural sensitivity, and a responsible attitude toward patients and the profession. Systems-Based Practice: Understand and apply knowledge of healthcare systems to optimize patient care. Call: Provide consult and call coverage as directed by the Chief of Surgery for the VA Hospital on Ramsey Street. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Podiatrist Basic Requirements Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~ Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position may involve standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. The work may involve going up and down flights of stairs.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.