Summary

The Phoenix VA Healthcare System (PHVAHCS) - in Primary Care Services is seeking a Section Chief (SC) - to serve as a practicing physician who will be responsible for the overall management of patients enrolled for healthcare services provided by the PHVAHCS at assigned clinic location. This position is responsible for managing and directing a variety of technical and administrative support services critical to clinic operation.

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) - 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: PRIMARY CARE EXPERIENCE PREFERRED - SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE PREFERRED 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.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 The Section Chief - (SC) - serves as a practicing physician who is responsible for the overall management of patients enrolled for healthcare services provided by the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PHVAHCS)
• The Section Chief is responsible for administrative tasks associated with clinic operations
• The primary purpose of the Section Chief position is to represent a single accountable authority for the clinic
• The incumbent is responsible for managing and directing a variety of technical and administrative support services critical to clinic operation
• In this capacity - the incumbent has full delegated authority and responsibility for the coordination and oversight of clinical and administrative activities in the outpatient clinic
• Duties Include but not limited to: Primary focus of this position is administrative - The Section Chief will spend approximately 50% of their time in clinical - patient care activity
• This activity can be direct or involve supervision of residents
• You will also be required to: Serve as a role model to peers
• Be knowledgeable of collective bargaining agreements Initiate - authorize - and complete disciplinary action pursuant to system rules - policies - procedures - and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements - at all levels across service lines
• Manage human capital by ensuring the most efficient staffing models are utilized - to enhance clinic access and maximize efficiency
• Prepare for Joint Commission and regulatory surveys
• Strategically plan for future clinic staffing needs for all disciplines represented within the clinic
• Provide education to the patient and family as necessary
• Coordinate strategic planning efforts for health care delivery with effective business planning to assure maximum health care quality and efficiency
• Provide reports to the ACOS - Primary care Services - advice and counseling in all aspects of defining and accomplishing the creation of an integrated health care delivery system at the CBOC
• Establish multiple ongoing mechanisms for open communication throughout all levels of PHVAHCS
• Monitor compliance with standards of practice
• Encourage clinical innovation
• Facilitate recruitment and retention of highly quality clinical staff and ensures representation of the clinics interests and concerns in PHVAHCS ' clinical committees
• Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled patients in the clinic setting
• Perform histories and physical exams
• Provide appropriate documentation to minimally include history - physical exam findings - diagnosis - definitive care plan and disposition of the patient
• Ensure that patients are appropriately closed-out including disposition that clearly indicates the next steps of care
• Ensure 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
• Work Schedule: Various