Physician - Assistant Chief Primary Care

Summary

This supervisory role includes the monitoring - review and assignment of healthcare providers' workload - clinical effectiveness and efficiency - coordination of work schedules and the responsibility for clinical performance measures for the VA Clinics. The incumbent works closely with other leaders within the primary care service and the organization to ensure optimization of resources.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Board certified in internal medicine Physician with VA experience
• 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.
  
  

Duties

• Duties 1
• The Assistant Chief will supervise and provide clinical oversight for the providers and nurse managers at three VA operated CBOCS
• 2
• The Assistant Chief will take an active role and provide provider level leadership and guidance for non-traditional care options - and work towards enhancing the use of video and telehealth at Salem VAMC
• 3
• Actively participate in Medical Center Committees - workgroups and will provide leadership role in performance improvement initiatives
• 4
• Participates in recruitment - retention - resource management - and clinical practice management in all functional areas under her/his oversight
• 5
• The Assistant Chief will have a working knowledge of clinical performance metrics such as HEDIS - EPRP - Hospital Compare - CG-CAHPS etc
• 6
• Collaborate to ensure on-time resolution of patient complaints and concerns received via patient advocacy - congressional office - White House Hotline - OIG and other suspended inquiries for the CBOCS
• 7
• Performs appropriate evaluation and management of patients to include ordering diagnostic tests - consultations and discriminates between normal and abnormal findings
• Makes appropriate care decisions based on evaluations and results
• 8
• Participates in team meetings and treatment planning conferences
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care
• 9
• Documents in the medical record in keeping in with the Bylaws of the Medical Center
• 10
• Provide clinical care to Veterans and provides clinical oversight of the PACT team to which assigned
• 11
• Ensures that medical treatment or care plans consist of current best medical practices and are evidence-based if possible
• 12
• Ensures practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission - CARF - VA policies and procedures - clinical practice guidelines - VISN standards - national statutes and regulations - medical record documentation - mandatory continuing education - and HIPAA policies
• 13
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• 14
• Ensures productivity is maintained at the established level in the programs for which he/she is responsible
• 15
• Knowledge of the FPPE and OPPE processes to evaluate and assess patient care services provided by the PA and NP staff
• 16
• Actively promotes a customer-oriented culture and promotes the hiring of persons who demonstrate the VA's iCARE values of integrity - commitment - advocacy - respect - and excellence
• 17
• Encourages an atmosphere of trust - psychological safety and empowerment in all functional areas under her/his oversight
• 18
• Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently at the lowest level
• 19
• Completes projects or duties as assigned by the Chief - PCSL
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday - Friday