Physician (Assistant Chief of Primary Care)

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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.

English Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Education: 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.

Licensure and Registration: 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), 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. Preferred Experience: Board eligible/board certified in family practice or internal medicine.

Experience in a Primary Care Service setting. Leadership and Supervisory experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, pulling, and carrying.

Must be able to walk, stand, and bend for 2-4 hours per day. Able to distinguish between basic colors. Hearing (aid permitted). Good interpersonal skills, working closely with others.

Use of fingers for 6-7 hours per day. Major Duties:

The Assistant Chief of Primary Care directs and supervises clinical activities of the Primary Care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners at the Lexington Clinics and collaborates with other members of the teams to provide medical care to Veterans enrolled at those clinics.

Supports other Service Chiefs and Medical Directors in overseeing the operations of Primary Care, Women Veterans, specialty, and all ancillary services. Reports directly to the Chief of Primary Care.

Major Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Participates in both Medical Center and Primary Care Service-level management discussions, decision, and policymaking.

Supervises the clinical activities of Ambulatory Care Physicians, Physician Assistants, and APRN's and will provide input to the Chief of Primary Care.

Will work with Clinics and Services within the Medical Center to achieve compliance with internal and external regulatory and accreditation standards such as the Joint Commission, Office of the Inspector General and the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Responsible for managing a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) panel of patients .75 capacity. The Assistant Chief will attend administrative and clinical meetings as designated.

Works jointly with the Associate Chief of Nursing and the AO for the Primary Care Service, to assist with the operational management of Primary Care.

Participates in Primary Care Provider recruitment, retention, resource management, and clinical practice management in all functional areas under her/his oversight.

- Writes, edits, and/or provides review of standard operating procedures for VA Clinics.

Other activities include resource oversight, including fiscal and human resource management, and program management within Primary Care Service as designated.

Validates provider staffing daily; de-conflicts leave requests, ensures appropriate coverage and surrogacy plan in place. Collaborates with NM and AO for overall clinic coverage.

The Assistant Chief will be responsible for leave approval, time and attendance, and intervening in labor negotiations.

The Assistant Chief will be primarily responsible for covering in the absence of the Chief of the service and will be responsible for carrying on the service and making administrative and clinical decisions as necessary.

Identifies areas for continuous improvement by monitoring multiple quality measurement tools within primary care.

(S)he participates in performance improvement activities in key management indicators such as access, efficient and effective business operations, and patient satisfaction.

Review Performance Data and/or additional peer review programs and provide feedback to providers through mentoring and the performance appraisal system.

Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently at the lowest level.

Ensure new providers are mentored and integrated; responsible for the completion of Provider Performance evaluations.

The Assistant Chief will act as Clinical Champion for performance improvement activities to ensure service compliance of the service for critical measures and monitors.

The service is responsible for multiple activities including access to care, encounter form completion, consult management, and customer satisfaction.

Encourages an atmosphere of trust, psychological safety and empowerment in all functional areas under her/his oversight. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact Betsy Quinn, betsy.quinn@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm