Physician (Deputy Chief of Staff)

Summary

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.

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.

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 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: Preferred candidate will be a board certified physician who is a Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy
• It is strongly preferred that the candidate has accumulated at least 1 year of experience as a Chief of Staff (COS) - Deputy COS - Service Chief - or Service Line Manager prior to appointment
• Candidate must have or secure an active medical license
• Management experience strongly preferred - with proven leadership skills and demonstrated supervisory experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: Periods of long standing
• Occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects
• Long periods of sitting at a computer station
• The need for high degree of accuracy - potentially stressful situations - and the ability to adapt work plans based on patient status.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• Authorized to apply EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Depends on specialty
• 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 Telework: ADHOC This position may be housed at our Topeka or Leavenworth KS
• VA
• But will travel between the campuses when appropriate
• (Leavenworth KS./Topeka KS.) Coordinates care in all areas of the Service lines at their designated division or both divisions and any expansion in the future
• develops and oversees the care and supervision provided by both physicians and mid-level providers
• provides direct patient care to patients as required and provides clinical guidance to advanced practice providers
• Responsible to coordinate within their own Service Line - outside of their Service Line - at the other divisions within the EKHCS structure and the CBOC Clinics
• Open - clear - and collaborative engagements are a key duty
• Incumbent is ultimately responsible to ensure barriers for Veterans and staff are minimized to promote a positive work environment
• Fosters positive working relationships with staff - peers and Veterans
• Responsible for the direct supervision of Physician Leaders - program leads - and clinical support staff as assigned within the service - including but not limited to: approval and denial of time and leave to assure proper coverage of services
• certification of time and leave
• performance reviews and interventions
• performance pay determinations
• disciplinary actions and interventions
• and other functions to support the performance - behavior - and accountability of the direct reports
• The DCOS is expected to manage a caseload of not less than 20% clinical time
• Responsible for the progressive improvement of the service delivery - which may include programmatic participation in initiatives within the facility
• Available for emergency interventions
• Participates in multiple hospital - VISN and national committees - departmental and hospital in-service programs - and education programs of the department and the hospital - as well as continuous quality improvement through peer review process
• Responsible for Quality Management and Quality Improvement Activities such as Medical Record Review - Drug Utilization Evaluation in consultation with pharmacist - Peer Reviews and Root Cause Analysis
• Reviews - analyzes and reports on monthly and annual data from facilities as a means of monitoring growth and integration of services in addition to identifying areas of need and expansion
• Leads clinical improvement and systems redesign initiatives
• Insures successful performance in VISN and national performance targets
• Encourages and stimulates the development and improvement of VISN programs using knowledge gained from successful projects
• Plans - leads - provides educational opportunities for staff - patients and families while supporting staff education and certification
• Serves as coverage/delegate for the Chief of Staff as requested
• Work Schedule: 0800-1630

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.