Physician (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Chief)

Full Job Description

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Physician to serve as the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Chief.

The Physician will serve within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service and will provide leadership and oversight for all clinical and administrative operations across its programs, providers, and sites of care.

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.

Board Certification is required by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in the specialty/sub-specialty indicated in the announcement.

Proficiency in spoken and written English. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The position is primarily active, with sedentary activity and some bending, walking, and stooping required. Major Duties:

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 The Physician (Physiatrist - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Chief) oversees all professional, administrative, and clinical functions of the PM&RS Service.

Key responsibilities include managing budgets; ensuring the quality and efficiency of clinical programs and research; monitoring performance metrics; and maintaining staff competency through proper credentialing and privileging.

The Service Chief ensures compliance with regulatory and accrediting standards, supports research and quality initiatives, and serves on Medical Center, VISN, and national committees.

The role also involves developing proposals and strategic initiatives to improve care delivery, access, and operational efficiency.

Clinical Responsibilities Provide comprehensive medical and rehabilitation care to patients across the full continuum of rehabilitation services, including consultative care.

Oversee all outpatient and inpatient clinical operations within PM&R, ensuring compliance with CARF, CMS, OIG, and TJC standards. Directly supervise the clinical care delivered by PM&R physicians.

Organize, supervise, and monitor duty assignments, tour schedules, and leave requests for all PM&R physicians to ensure appropriate daily clinical coverage across all rehabilitation settings.

Ensure continuous 24/7 physician coverage, including holidays, for all inpatient rehabilitation units. Provide supervision to PM&RS physician residents as needed.

Review referrals and consults for admission to all Rehabilitation Service programs.

Promote effective collaboration with medical, clinical, and ancillary services to support coordinated, interdisciplinary patient care.

Administrative Responsibilities Ensure development and maintenance of written policies and procedures that comply with VHA Central Office, PM&R, and accrediting body standards; review and update these documents at least bi-annually.

Ensure adequate staffing and resources to support PM&RS services across the care continuum. Communicate ongoing local and national developments that impact PM&RS operations.

Collaborate with the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Chief of Therapy Services to identify and address PM&RS service delivery issues.

Develop and implement PM&RS strategic plans in partnership with VANEOHS rehabilitation leadership, incorporating input from internal and external stakeholders.

Contribute to the annual performance evaluation process for all PM&R staff.

Ensure a QI/TQI committee meets at least quarterly to identify key aspects of care and monitor services that are high-risk, high-volume, or problem-prone.

Monitor and ensure achievement of performance measures such as access to care, patient satisfaction, outcomes, and risk management.

Oversee the use of systematic data collection, analysis, corrective actions, and reporting to support quality improvement.

Ensure PM&RS and the preventive health maintenance program actively participate in VANEOHS PI/QI programs.

Research Responsibilities Monitor research activities within PM&RS to ensure alignment with departmental goals and standards.

Encourage participation in and promotion of research initiatives within the department. Support and assist physicians, residents, and staff in their research efforts.

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