Physician (Primary Care Assistant Section Chief)

Summary

The Phoenix VA Healthcare System (PHVAHCS) - in Primary Care Services is seeking an Assistant Section Chief (ASC) - to serve as a practicing physician who will be responsible for the overall management of patients enrolled for healthcare services provided by the PHVAHCS.

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.

• 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: PRIMARY CARE EXPERIENCE PREFERRED - SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE PREFERRED Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1 - Part II - Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for a highly qualified candidate
• 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 Duties include but not limited to the following: Coordinate care for a panel of outpatients as assigned by PHVAHCS
• Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled patients in the clinic setting
• Perform histories and physical exams
• Provides appropriate documentation to minimally include history - physical exam findings - diagnosis - definitive care plan and disposition of the patient
• Ensures that patients are appropriately closed-out including disposition that clearly indicates the next steps of care
• Ensures that each patient is provided a list of current medications and an appointment list at close-out
• Perform office procedures contained within their approved privileges
• Prescribe medications as appropriate
• Order routine laboratory - radiological and diagnostic tests and provide initial interpretation of results
• Communicate test results to patients
• Initiate and expedite requests for consultations and special tests
• Screen patients to determine the need for hospitalization Function as a preceptor for residents in the clinic setting as assigned by PHVAHCS
• Provide education to the patient and family as necessary
• Supervise Physicians - Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in Clinic The incumbent is administratively and clinically responsible to the Section Chief and the Chief - Primary Care Services - who is the Approving Official
• The incumbent will supervise the Physicians - Nurse Practitioners and the Physician Assistants in the particular clinic where assigned - to include performance evaluation completion annually
• Incumbent also approves leave and certifies time cards bi-weekly
• Incumbent reviews patient transfers for care issues and determines reassignment
• Facilitates DMS Tier 1-2 for clinic assigned
• Work Schedule: Various