Summary

This is a full-time position at the Montana VA Health Care System - Fort Harrison. The Associate Chief of Staff Specialty Care Service is both a supervisor as well as direct patient care provider responsible for carrying out operations of the Specialty Care Service. The ACOS Specialty Care will also have overall supervision of the inpatient Hospitalists section - Cardiopulmonary section - infectious disease - and oncology as well as Pathology & Laboratory - and Radiology.

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 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: Administrative leadership abilities Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires frequent bending and lifting - and the ability to assist patients with a variety of activities
• This position requires the ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds - reaching above shoulders - use of fingers - both hands required - and hearing (aid permitted)
• Must be cognitively - emotionally fit and be able to work with other or alone.

Duties

• Administrative Demonstrate ability to appoint and/or build interdisciplinary team members with complimentary skills for maximum team effort/success
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of Physicians - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses - Physician assistants - and any administrative staff who are assigned to the Specialty Care Service
• Coaches staff in team building
• Contributes to staff growth and development of effective teams and individuals in the team
• Ensure physician staffing requirements for 24/7 - 365 coverage of the Specialty Care Service are met
• The incumbent is responsible to coordinate and supervise the Medical Officer of the Day (MOD) group and ensure that weekend/holiday coverage is scheduled appropriately
• Ensure that providers possess the necessary skills appropriate to patient care in an inpatient/acute care unit
• Ensures that all providers maintain continuing education and certifications - including Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Basic Cardiac Life Support
• Responsible for completion of Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) - Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) for initial hires and providers needing focused evaluation for cause - performance/proficiency evaluations and pay for performance evaluations for all staff under the ACOS Specialty Care Service's direct supervision
• Develops and implements appropriate policies - procedures - plans - and professional standards that guide and support Specialty Care Service operations
• Responsible for the assessment of service line needs and takes the lead in the development of resource (staff - space - equipment) requests for the Specialty Care Service
• Serves as the responsible official for Specialty Care Service Equipment Inventory List (EIL) - participates in completion of annual survey of inventory - and report of survey for any damaged - end of life cycle - or missing equipment Oversight of Performance Improvement/Quality Assurance/Utilization Review and evaluation to ensure that the four dimensions of care are continuously evaluated and improved: Access
• Quality of Care - Customer Service/Patient Satisfaction - and Utilization Management/Efficiency of Care
• Researches problems that impact the quality of care delivery
• Ensure the ethical and competent practice of the Specialty Care Service
• Serve on important interdisciplinary boards and committees as appointed by the Chief of Staff
• Support all existing safety and infection control practices relevant to this position
• Contributes to and keeps abreast of new safety and ergonomic practices as they are developed
• Clinical Serve as a practicing Physician within his/her specialty according to approved clinical privileges at MTVAHCS
• Must maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Serve as an integral member of interdisciplinary and hospital committees as appointed by Chief of Staff
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact rita.owens@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov
• 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm