Physician (Palliative Care)

Physician (Palliative Care)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salary Range: $124308 - $315000 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES The duties of the Palliative Care physician include: Managing medications to palliate symptoms related to serious illness such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, agitation, anxiety, and other symptoms Ensuring clear communication of medical information and options for care and treatments to assist Veterans and their families in navigating the complexity that often accompanies serious illness Coordinating care across different care settings by facilitating communication among providers Providing education and support to patients and their families regarding serious illness and end-of-life issues Facilitating advance care planning and conversations about care preferences to ensure the care being provided is aligned with the goals and preferences of Veterans Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and contributing to care planning Documenting patient care activities and maintaining accurate medical records as per facility policy Precepting Palliative Care and Geriatrics fellows and participating in relevant activities of the fellowship programs Precepting and teaching Penn medical students who have chosen elective rotations on the Palliative Care service Providing direct supervision, education, monitoring, and feedback to trainees and other professional staff Performing on-call duties on a rotating basis for the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit in the CLC on nights, weekends, and holidays Serving as a member of the organized medical staff, participating in staff meetings, and ensuring adherence to medical center policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations Ensuring that performance objectives established by VACO, VISN, and the local facility are met Ensuring that clinical protocols, utilization review, case management, quality assurance, and compliance programs are followed and feedback for improvement are provided Ensuring compliance with facility policy for timely completion of progress notes, consults, and encounters Creating and participating in educational activities including continuing medical education programs Participating in Medical Center education/training programs including TMS Remaining knowledgeable about the policies and programs of public health agencies and community services which affect VA patient care Acting as the organization's medical representative in the community through committees including Veteran Community Partnerships Maintaining a professional relationship with all staff and Veterans in the Medical Center in a consistently courteous, cooperative, and collaborative way Demonstrating the ability to adjust to a change in work schedule and demands as required by consult volume as well as mandated changes per local and national directives At the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMJCVAMC), the Palliative Care Physician may rotate as the Attending Physician primarily through the inpatient Palliative Care consult service and the outpatient clinic which includes in-person and telehealth Veteran encounters. Although the Hospice Clinical Director is the primary provider in the Hospice Unit of the CLC, there may also be clinical time on service in the Hospice Unit in the CLC as needed for coverage. ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in an empathetic, culturally sensitive, and accessible manner - Ethical Integrity: Commitment to the highest standards of professional conduct, confidentiality, and integrity in all aspects of patient care - Decision-Making: Ability to make sound clinical and ethical judgments under pressure - Compassion: Demonstrates sensitivity, understanding, and empathy - Cultural Competence: Commitment to providing culturally competent care and respecting diverse backgrounds and beliefs - Adaptability: Flexibility in adapting to changing clinical situations, work schedules, regulatory environments, and advances in hospice care- Technological Proficiency: Comfortable using electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine platforms, digital healthcare tools. AGE, DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS. Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served, which is appropriate to the cognitive; emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age- specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am thru 4:30 pm

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. Board certified or board eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine is strongly preferred Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics and Palliative Care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

How to Apply: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/14/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBSZ-12907384-26-BS in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Application Deadline: 2026-04-14