Physician -Assistant Chief of Staff Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC)

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.

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.

Additional Requirement: None Preferred Experience: Palliative Care Fellowship or Palliative Care Certification, Geriatric Medicine Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The position will require walking, standing or sitting for periods of up to 8 hours each day and delivering care, providing holistic care, and case management in the home of the veteran.

This may require excessive bending, lifting, twisting, and driving in inclement weather. Major Duties:

The Assistant Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care will support the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care in providing leadership, direction, planning, and administration of the Geriatrics and Extended Care programs.

The Assistant Chief will assist in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care to the veteran population and will play a key role in clinical operations, quality improvement, and staff development within the department.

Duties and Responsibilities Assistant Chief Plan and conduct monthly section meetings with GEC providers and affiliated staff (as applicable).

Attend required section meetings with the ACOS of GEC Monitoring overall performance of providers working in GEC service line and provide performance improvement opportunities and/or interventions as appropriate.

This includes but is not limited to performing FPPE/OPPEs and ensuring the Provider Activity Report (PAR) tool reflects appropriate data.

Collaborate with the ACOS of GEC to ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained and well qualified staff is recruited.

Maintain an up-to-date schedule which provides appropriate coverage in the Palliative Care clinics and the Inpatient Palliative Consult Service.

Oversee different service lines within GEC which could include Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services and Pain Management.

Physician Provider Responsible for the oversight of all aspects of medical care delivered to patients under their care.

Provide or assist residents, fellows, hospitalists, and/or nurse practitioners in the process of evaluation and treatment of the patient, and actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to palliative care interventions.

Evaluate the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status during their inpatient stay.

A thorough Palliative Care consult note, with the appropriate level of detail, will be entered into the medical record along with an assessment and plan for acute and ongoing care as well as discharge planning.

A consult note is written in the patient's chart daily as long as geriatrics is following the patient.

Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident or fellow, and other consulting service notes as appropriate, in a manner consistent with the VA guidelines for resident and trainee supervision.

Ensure all Palliative Care & related procedure orders are reviewed and signed off before departing the hospital daily.

Perform outpatient Palliative Care evaluations and consultations in the Consultation Clinic in a timely manner.

During scheduled tour hours, the incumbent will be available for all urgent assessments and interventions as part of the Palliative care consult service care team.

Maintain appropriate credentials and privileges Participate in various hospital committees, and hospital in-service programs, and education programs of GEC and the hospital.

Assist with the enforcement of VA TMS and BLS requirements pertaining to GEC providers. Engage in continuous quality improvement by participating in the VA peer review process.

Responsible for graduate and undergraduate medical education and scientific research, as appropriate VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@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; 8:00am - 4:30pm