Provides services and support to develop virtual healthcare programs to deliver healthcare to Veterans in underserved areas that are experiencing staffing gaps. Will work directly with PVAHCS leadership (e.g., Service Line Chiefs of Primary Care, Medicine, Surgery, Mental Health, Pharmacy, Nursing, Whole Health, C and P, Occupational Health, Community Medicine, etc.), to ensure that PVAHCS Telehealth services are high performing. 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. Preferred Experience: Strong experience in Telehealth, Leadership, Management, Team Training, Quality and Data Analysis. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule: To be determined by supervisor. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for 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 Support the PVAHCS telehealth program. Expected to develop, maintain, and support interprofessional services to improve access to care for Veterans at facilities/CBOCs that are underserved or experiencing gaps in clinical services due to the inability to match provider supply with demand, wait times, or distance to care. Responsible to ensure telehealth services are completed at the highest standard and in alignment with national Office of Connected Care (OCC) standards. Coordinate with PVAHCS leaders, VISN and VA Central Offices and ensure that regulatory and quality standards are implemented within the PVAHCS OCC. Ensure that all OCC services are utilized appropriately and follow specific OCC and telehealth, and other pertinent program office policies and procedures. It is recognized that some services within OCC will be completed virtually across different facilities; therefore, the PVAHCS OCC Director will be expected to assist interfacility stakeholders by managing these complex actions and advocating with appropriate agencies to increase the efficiency of these services. Required to exercise a high level of organizational skill, independent judgment, problem-solving ability, and content expertise in program development, implementation, maintenance, and sustainment. Ability communicate effectively with local and field staff and VISN, CRH, and VA Central Office leadership on a variety of clinical and administrative strategic priorities. Requires travel for purposes including, but not limited to: VISN and facility leadership training, implementation of OCC services at OCC Spoke sites and other as appropriate. Major duties include but not limited to the following: Perform initial histories and physical examinations on outpatients. History and physical examinations will mostly use rely on the use of telehealth technology, but some direct face-to-face visits may also be needed. Provides a full range of clinical services including assessment, referrals for other medical conditions, coordination of care, admitting patients when necessary, as clinically indicated. Provide ongoing outpatient and inpatient care for assigned patients. Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice. Provides consultation to professional staff with the PVAHCS and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG's). Review need for and order health promotion and disease prevention activities. Respond to and expedite request for consultations, special tests and studies. Provide education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Assumes responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decision and documentation. Supervise trainees in their own specialty in the outpatient clinics and inpatient wards with face to face and telehealth visits. Participate in on call duties in their specialty. Collaborates with each service line and associated section chiefs in the development, administration, and maintenance of their individual telehealth programs. Directs the administration and operational structure of these individual programs. Monitors the success and barriers for each telehealth program. Clinical support for each of these telehealth programs will be provided by each section chief for their individual sections. Ensure efficient operation of facility telehealth programs. Ensures National, VISN, and local telehealth metrics are met or exceeded including operational efficiency. The physician is required to attend associated and pertinent staff meetings, committee meetings, VISN/National meetings, and complete peer reviewed exercises. Shifts may occasionally deviate from the usual 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule. Computer and telehealth skills are required."]
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.