EM at the VA

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
sonofva

sonofva

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
1,061
Reaction score
384
Anyone do em at a va hospital? How does pay work, how many shifts per month, is the culture ok and the job enjoyable? Thanks!!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Members don't see this ad.
 
sonofva said:
Anyone do em at a va hospital? How does pay work, how many shifts per month, is the culture ok and the job enjoyable? Thanks!!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
Yes.

Depends on the location - there's base pay (salaried) + geographic adjustment + performance bonus. Plus pension matching.

FT = 40h/week. So, depends on total shift length.

Culture depends on the shop & section chiefs. The VA in some ways is unsure how to work with EPs, as it's constructed on a clinic hour model. But if you have good bosses to defend against bureaucratic dip$hittery you're fine.

I enjoy it - most vets are truly pleasant & thankful. And I have a good boss, see above.

Semper Brunneis Pallium
 
Thanks!! How long did the hiring process take you?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Do they have all ambulances on divert all day at the va? Certainly seems that way


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bravotwozero said:
Do they have all ambulances on divert all day at the va? Certainly seems that way


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Until recently, we didn't take EMS runs. Diverting private EMS if the hospital is on bypass because full (which often is) is not inappropriate.

Semper Brunneis Pallium
 
Sorry, what is "VA hospital" pls ?
 
Daiphon said:
Veterans Administration. Anyone who has served the US Armed Services can qualify for & receive care from. Kind of like an integrated care model for vets.

Semper Brunneis Pallium
Click to expand...

Hows the acuity?

Gimme some numbers on pay.
 
Old_Mil said:
40 hours a week in an ED sounds like a receipe for burnout...
Click to expand...
It is. Ends up being 3 12's with some admin time to make up the difference.

There are shops that run on 10's & 8's. Shoot me... rather do the 12's as only 3 days/week.

Semper Brunneis Pallium
 
Our VA has contracted with a small democratic group of EPs to cover it. Wasn't always like that. I remember in AZ in residency it was a bunch of internists working there.
 
Daiphon said:
Hiring? About an hour.

Credentialing? About 6 months.

Semper Brunneis Pallium
Click to expand...



I am considering taking a part time job at the VA. I have been working community EM at a very difficult place and am looking for better subspecialty backup and less legal fears. This VA is in a big city and I perceive that these things will be better. One of my big concerns is that I am relitively early in my career and I will likely have other jobs in the future. I know that every hospital you ever work at will need to send records in the future in order to get credentialed at future hospitals. My previous experience with military hospitals is that you can NEVER get records from them if you have a patient. Does anyone have experience working at a VA that is good or bad and has anyone ever left the VA and gotten other employment and had any problem with the VA sending records in order for you to get credentialed at other hospitals? I might be over thinking this but I would love to hear others experience before I sign on. Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
EM at the VA, future career advice
Replies
23
Views
4K
GBR0321
GBR0321
H
VA emergency medicine
Replies
10
Views
2K
Old_Mil
Old_Mil
B
EM Alliance
Replies
1
Views
443
RustedFox
RustedFox
E
EM Physician stabbed in the chest while on shift
Replies
20
Views
2K
xaelia
xaelia
Boatswain2PA
Best EM podcasts?
2
Replies
64
Views
3K
Janders
J
Top