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
• Preferred Experience: The Chief, P&LMS must be an experienced, fully trained pathologist, board certified in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

"The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.
As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.
This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
The Chief, P&LMS at the ICVAHCS is the senior management official responsible for all areas of P&LMS including clinical, administrative, education, and research.
The Chief, P&LMS is directly responsible to the Chief of Staff and directly or indirectly supervises all staff assigned to the service.
Responsibilities include planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating the operational aspects of a full-service laboratory program.
In the hospital setting, the Chief, P&LMS participates in the day-to-day care of hospital patients by providing and interpreting laboratory information to help solve diagnostic problems and to monitor the effects of treatment.
For Clinical Pathology, the Chief interfaces with the sections of hematopathology, coagulation, hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, microbiology, and transfusion medicine/immunohematology.
For Anatomic Pathology, the Chief concentrates on disease processes associated with characteristic morphologic changes.
These activities include surgical pathology, histology, immunohistochemistry, and cytopathology.
The Chief, P&LMS must be an experienced, fully trained pathologist, board certified in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
The incumbent works closely with peers in other service lines, services, and management to meet the needs of the medical center's recognized customer/patient groups.
The incumbent is knowledgeable of overall VA, VISN, and medical center goals, missions, and priorities to assure a positive impact on programs and resources.
The incumbent is ultimately responsible for the successful performance of P&LMS.
This responsibility includes overall effective operations including customer/patient satisfaction, quality of services provided, efficiency of service delivery, effective resource management, and successful attainment of ICVAHCS, VISN, and VHA performance measures.
Call and Coverage expectations of the incumbent's assignment: The Service Chief will be available at all times unless on personal leave, at which time he/she will appoint a designee to provide coverage.
The role of the P&LMS service chief may also include, but will not be limited to the following: Contributes to the operation of effective and safe laboratories that are in compliance with standards established by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), The Joint Commission (TJC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as required.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off 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) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Typical work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, additional information may be provided during interview process"