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
• Board Certification 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
• 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: There may be some walking, standing, sitting, bending, and carrying of light items.

Duties

"The VA Bedford HCS PC Section Chief will work directly with VISN leadership (e.g., Pharmacy, Mental Health, Nursing, etc.) and VISN leadership (e.g.
VISN Primary Care, Telehealth, Pharmacy, Nursing lead, etc.) to ensure that the VA Bedford Primary Care services are high performing.
Services provided by VA Bedford HCS PC staff are conducted via multiple modalities, including virtual and in-person care.
As the VA Bedford HCS PC Section Chief, this individual is responsible for primary care providers, providing services and programming for the VA Bedford HCS Primary Care Service line.
As a part of the VA Bedford HCS Team, the PC Section Chief will contribute significantly to the completion of projects and utilization of resources to support the mission and goals of the VA Bedford HCS facility and VISN 1.
This individual is responsible for providing Primary Care specific education and consultation, ensuring that PC services are completed at the highest standard.
This PC Section Chief is required to exercise a high level of leadership and organizational skill, independent judgment, problem-solving ability, and content expertise in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
The position requires the ability to communicate effectively with field staff, VISN, and VA Central Office (VACO) leadership on a variety of clinical and administrative strategic priorities.
Additional Duties: Collaborates in the development and maintenance of written policies and procedures defining operational requirements for the Primary Care program.
Provides leadership, management, and oversight of providers and/or programs that support Primary Care delivery of care.
Participates in recruitment and selection of all new Primary Care staff with a significant and active role in the selection of applicants.
Assures that the necessary aspects of orientation are covered at the service level for Primary Care staff, including information security, CPRS training, PACT, and virtual related training and documentation.
Uses advanced clinical knowledge and virtual expertise to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes.
Functions as the Primary Care subject matter expert and enforces Primary Care policies and procedures.
Establishes work schedules, assignments, and work productivity requirements of supervised Primary Care staff.
Analyzes workload data, including patient panel size and staffing, efficiency, and evaluates appropriate use of available hours, qualifications of staff, technology, overtime and call-back.
Analyzes and allocates available resources and identifies risk areas which include budgetary, staffing, equipment, and available data.
Generates administrative reports on request.
Assumes full responsibility for working with leadership to prioritize, implement, onboard, manage operation, and terminate Primary Care operations when/as appropriate.
Evaluates and determines a course of action which will result in the most favorable patient or organizational outcome Perform initial histories and physical examinations.
Completing history and physical examinations.
Review need for and order health promotion and disease prevention activities.
Provide education and counseling for patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
As appropriate, participate in inter-professional focused patient chart reviews, team meetings, team huddles, and shared medical appointments.
Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice.
Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions.
Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
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: Monday - Friday (7:30am - 4:00pm) Telework: Ad-hoc"