VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT United States Department of State An Equal Opportunity Employer Announcement No:  FSHP - 98-1 Opening Date:   November 03, 1998 Closing Date:     Indefinite   Position Title:   FOREIGN SERVICE HEALTH PRACTITIONER Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-3, $52,335 - $76,856 Additional Benefits: TaxFree Housing overseas, TaxFree Educational allowance, etc plus benefits package Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-order List of Eligible Hires to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Health Practitioner vacancies.  The specific  number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service. Area of Consideration: All Sources Location: Individuals must be willing to serve world-wide. Generally, following a  brief  orientation period at the Department of State in Washington, D. C., newly  hired Foreign Service Health        Practitioners will serve an initial two year tour at a Foreign Service post overseas, and will usually spend an average of 60 percent of  their careers stationed abroad, moving at two-to-       four year  intervals.  The  remainder of their time will be spent at the Department of State in the Washington,  D. C. Metropolitan area or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Serving as a Foreign Service Health Practitioner in support of the employees of the United States Government and their eligible family members, a health practitioner may work independently or in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel.  The Foreign Service Health Practitioner duties include implementing the following procedures at each post of responsibility: Provides primary health care at home post and regional posts to authorized patients. Collaborates with Regional Medical Officers (physician and/or psychiatrist) and Foreign Programs as needed. Recommends and facilitates medical/dental evacuation as necessary. Evaluates the quality of local and regional health care providers and facilities. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with local providers and other health care facilities. Maintains appropriate communication with constituent regional posts in order to advise home and regional posts management on current medical issues, policy questions with medical implications and to provide administrative and technical health care guidance to personnel. Monitors environmental health and safety conditions and acts as liaison with local and U.S. authorities. Assures sanitation surveys and monitors inspection of post food facilities. Provides a proactive disease prevention and health education program at home and regional posts. Prepares Health and Information Booklet. Actively participates in the annual budget preparation for the Health Unit. Administers the Health Unit and supervises Health Unit support staff. Organizes Primary Care Conferences for U.S. Embassy local hire medical professionals. Foreign Service Health Practitioners are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. THE FOREIGN SERVICE HEALTH PRACTITIONER CAREER The Office of Medical Services in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health of employees and their eligible family members who represent U.S. Government agencies abroad.  The Department assigns Foreign Service Health Practitioners, Medical Officers, Medical Officer / Psychiatrists and Medical Technologists to selected posts overseas.  Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical facilities are often inadequate to cope with them.  The Foreign Service Health Practitioner assumes the role of primary care provider, and is responsible for administering a full range of community health care services, including preventive health education for the U.S. Embassy's official community. Regional Foreign Service Health Practitioners are presently serving in Accra, Ankara, Asmara, Antananarivo Bangkok, Kampala, Kiev, Kathmandu, Kinshasa, Kuwait, La Paz, Lima, Lilongwe, London, Managua, Manila, Maputo, Mexico City, Monrovia, Moscow, Nairobi, Ndjamena, New Delhi, Niamey, Ouagadougou, Prague, Rabat, San Salvador, Santo Domingo, Sofia, Tashkent, Tel Aviv, Tbilisi, Tokyo, Yaounde, Ft. Lauderdale and Washington, D.C. While the preference of an applicant for a particular post or area of assignment is given every possible consideration, assignments are dictated by "the needs of the service." COMPENSATION AND TENURE The salary for Foreign Service Health Practitioners is FP-4, Step 7 through 10.  The salary is dependent upon such factors as graduate level education and directly-related specialized experience not used to satisfy qualifications criteria experience.  Salary level will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment.  To be creditable, such education and specialized experience must be in excess to that which is required to qualify as described under Education and Specialized Experience Requirements. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on highest previous rate as a Federal employee and will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment.  While the hiring of all medical professionals will start at Step 7, additional steps may be granted based on the following criteria: EDUCATION One in-grade step increase may be given for the first (and only the first) graduate degree below the doctoral level in a work-related field, awarded before the date of appointment. Two additional steps may be given for a doctoral degree in a work-related field, awarded before the date of the appointment. One step for a masters degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health   EXPERIENCE One step for 3 to 4 years of closely related experience Two steps for 5 to 6 years of closely related experience Three steps for 7 or more years of closely related experience In addition, the Foreign Service Health Practitioner receives at least ten hours of Category 1 CME credit through an annual State Department-sponsored Continuing Medical Education program. Foreign Service Health Practitioners are considered for promotion annually in competition with others in their specialty.  Foreign Service Career Candidates are considered for tenure by a Tenuring board after they acquire a minimum of three years experience in the Foreign Service as a Specialist Career Candidate.   MEDICAL CREDENTIALING & INDEMNIFICATION Applicants are subject to a Medical Credentialing process conducted by the Quality Improvement Staff of the Office of Medical Services.  The Medical Credentialing process includes queries of the National Practitioner Data Bank and Physician Data Profile through the American Medical Association (AMA).  Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited School of Nursing or in a related medical field that includes public/community health in the curriculum.  Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) program at the time of appointment, as stipulated below, and be able to pass a writing skills assessment which may be conducted following successful completion of the initial review stage and qualifications review panel.  The panel will recommend the most competitive candidates be invited to take a proctored writing examination.  The ability to draft an essay which will demonstrate a command of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be an important consideration in order to participate in an oral assessment, which is explained further in the enclosed supplement, "Information and Benefits for Foreign Service Specialists." Grade Level Salary Range Education General Experience Specialized Experience Total Experience FP-04 $46,074 - $50,346 B.S. 2 2 4 LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION Applicants must be currently licensed as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant in a state, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States or the District of Columbia and must have current national certification as an NP or PA from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.  Applications will not be accepted from Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants who are not currently licensed and certified.  National Board certification and re-certification as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant must be maintained. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Applicant must have a minimum of four years of recent experience providing direct patient care, which includes at least two years experience as an NP or PA; such experience will be evaluated on an individual basis.  Applicants must have a minimum of four years of experience in providing "primary care".  The term "primary care" refers to comprehensive health care for patients of all ages and both sexes and which encompasses the total person and all organ systems.  It also embraces the total family - including the emotional and physical concerns which impact the health of family members.  The primary care health practitioner utilizes and coordinates sub-specialty professional consultations when needed. Candidates must have specialized experience as an NP or PA and must demonstrate that the applicant can provide quality health care, including chronic and emergency care, in an independent family or general practice setting.  Work experience in hospitals, clinics, or agencies must illustrate that the candidate has the ability to manage the overall functioning of a health unit as well as being able to cope with extraordinary medical crisis, often in remote and isolated settings.  Education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant can function as a public/community health provider.  Applicant must have demonstrated a high degree of clinical and management expertise.  The patient population covered is unique because of background and lifestyle as part of a diplomatic community overseas.  This population also differs in terms of clinical and administrative needs and the national security concerns inherent in their employment.  Therefore, at least one (l) overseas assignment as a Foreign Service Health Practitioner is preferable.  Thorough understanding of the unique needs of the Department and the rigors of Foreign Service life and applicable foreign language proficiencies are preferred. Applicant must be a skilled and experienced health practitioner who recognizes and understands the problems of delivering health care to a large group of Americans posted in widely scattered groups of varying size most often where local medical resources are limited or non existent.  Experience in providing long distance triage and care via electronic communications such as telephone, radio, telegram and e-mail to individuals is preferred.  Knowledge and experience in providing educational information and immunizations for travel to foreign countries is sought. Candidates must have the ability to develop, coordinate, and administer health care delivery programs and procedures, including individuals and community health promotion and disease prevention programs.  They must have the ability to provide comprehensive health assessments and demonstrated clinical skills plus the ability to manage the health care needs of individuals and families across the life span.  It is necessary to have the ability to organize and supervise a diverse group of health care providers who have varying degrees of expertise, education and command of the English language.  An understanding of the unique cultural differences related to health care delivery in varied countries and the ability to deal with the differences in a positive manner is a necessity along with the ability to assess, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases. Candidates must have the capacity to gain the cooperation and confidence of patients, coworkers, supervisors, and subordinates.  Individuals must have experience in working in a multidisciplinary practice as well as experience in team building, leadership and management.  Effective written and oral communications skills, and the ability to present medical findings in a clear and concise manner to medical and non-medical personnel is essential.  The demonstrated ability to teach or lecture to groups on medical issues is preferred. Knowledge of medical regulations and policies of the Department of State is preferable.  Must possess a high degree of integrity, decisiveness and fairness in order to equitably apply the regulations and policies of the medical program to all eligible persons.  Knowledge and hands-on familiarity of computer systems is preferred. SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONNAIRE Purpose:  To allow an opportunity to describe your experiences that relate to the required skills which best show your ability to accomplish the work of the Foreign Service Health Practitioner. Instructions:   Using plain white paper and either a typewriter or word processor, individually address each of the numbered items listed below, limiting responses to 200 words or less for each item.  The writing should be double-spaced.  Examples can be drawn from any part of your experience, but must reflect personal accomplishments.  You should compose your replies carefully as one of the skills required of an experienced Health Practitioner is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Clinical Experience:  Describe a specific complex clinical case which demonstrates your skills in organizing patient problems and solutions. Organizational Abilities:  Describe a specific achievement demonstrating your planning and organizational skills in the setting a multidisciplinary practice. Leadership and Teamwork Abilities:  Discuss your abilities to participate as a team member working toward a common goal, as well as examples of your ability to lead a team in the accomplishment of a goal. Public Speaking and Teaching Ability:  Describe specific examples demonstrating your public speaking and teaching abilities as part of an assignment or work-related task.  PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING The following materials are required for a complete application package. They become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned. All items listed must be submitted together. Completed Application for Federal Employment (DS-1950) included. Completed Employment Data Form included.  This is an optional form, which request      information to be used for statistical purposes only. Official transcripts , plus any other documentation which includes all courses taken, grades, semester or quarter hours earned, cumulative grade point averages for all courses taken, class standing/s, and major (copy of Bachelor's Degree).  Current license as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant in a state, the common-wealth of  Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States or the District of Columbia (current national certification as an NP or PA from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants). CompletedSupplementary Questionnaire These documents should be submitted and addressed to: U.S. Department of State Office of Medical Services Attention:  MED PERSONNEL SA-1 -  Room L-216 2401 E Street, N.W. Washington, D.C.  20522-0102 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL  (202) 663-1750 While this vacancy announcement shall remain open indefinitely, applications will be considered as the completed package arrives in the Department.  The Department of State will be hiring a number of candidates.  Please note that the average processing time for an application is 7-9 months, including the completion of the credentialing, medical and security clearances. Applications, which are received through State's inter-office mail system or mailed in Government-franked envelopes, will not be processed. Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender.  In addition, as mandated by US Code 310, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities. The Department of State is committed to equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment for all without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, marital status, or prior statutory, constitutionally protected activity.