Physician (Chief of Ambulatory Care)

Full Job Description

The New Mexico VA Health Care System is recruiting for the Chief of Ambulatory Care.

Ambulatory Care Service provides administrative, programmatic, and clinical leadership for primary care services to ensure achievement of the clinical, research and education goals.

This position is a dual clinical and administrative role.

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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions.

Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted.

Major Duties:

Albuquerque is a major metropolitan area with a population exceeding 600,000 that is nestled between the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande.

The climate is extraordinary, with very mild winters and dry warm summers with cool evenings.

Outdoor activities are vast and include hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, fishing, hunting, biking, year-round golf and tennis. 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 As the Chief of Ambulatory Care you will serve as the first line direct, on-site supervisor for the Patient Aligned Care Teams' (PACT) primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and the Deputy Chief.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Overseeing administrative operations for patient care in the Albuquerque Primary Care Clinic and all New Mexico Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs): Northwest Metro, Gallup, Silver City, Artesia, Santa Fe, Farmington, & Raton; according to the rules and regulations set by the VHA, VACO, VISN, DVAHCS, Medical Bylaws, Primary Care SOPs, all other federal and State laws, rules and regulations.

Developing, reviewing, and implementing clinic policies and procedures as needed with final approval from the Chief of Staff- Ambulatory Care Service.

Training clinic and ancillary staff on the new policies and procedures as effectively and efficiently as possible. Ensuring communication and collaboration with Ancillary Services and their leadership.

Working seamlessly with other health care team members and supporting VA patient satisfaction initiatives. Coordinating and promoting clinic level Quality Improvement and Utilization Review.

Primarily focusing of practice is the independent clinical evaluation of Veterans through their panel of patients including prevention and patient self-management.

Caring for a mixed panel of Veterans that incorporates evidence-based treatment with shared medical decision making for health promotion, disease prevention and management of chronic medical conditions will be provided to male and female Veterans.

Care may be provided in many modalities, from direct face to face care, virtual care (including telephonic, video, secured messaging and others) Promoting, directing, evaluating and being responsible for referral management of clinical concerns that are found during these evaluations.

Functioning as a member of a Patient Aligned Care Team, collaborating with clinical and administrative support to provide timely, quality, coordinated care for Veterans.

Utilizing and promoting approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols. Collaborating with other health care resources to ensure continuity of care.

Keeping abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant in Primary Care.

Participating in continuous medical education as per requirements with topics including but not limited to opioid prescribing and trainings to fulfill and maintain designated women's health primary care provider.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm