Physician (Chief of Staff)

Summary

The Chief of Staff effectively leads the clinical staff to achieve the facility mission and goals. The incumbent is accountable and responsible to the Medical Center Director for the coordination of clinical activities - clinical staff and administrative oversight. The incumbent monitors and ensures medical staff compliance with agency regulations - medical staff bylaws - facility policies - Joint Commission (JC) standards - and other appropriate regulations.

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. 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: At least 3 years of experiences Supervising providers in a complex multidisciplinary healthcare setting
• Degree of Doctor of Medicine or Degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Demonstrated skill in providing organizational leadership - or facilitation - in the achievement of goals within a health care setting - Demonstrated highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work with a variety of health care professionals and other key staff including high level officials
• Knowledge skills and ability to asses - evaluate - diagnose - and treat patients - Completion of VA leadership program such as HCLDP - LVA or any other leadership training outside of VA/VHA Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentives
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time - part time[ -] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives
• Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive - it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): is Authorized
• NOTE: Appraised Value Offer (AVO) is excluded
• 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) Telework: Ad/Hoc Telework is available
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8 AM - 4:45 PM 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 Chief of Staff possesses a broad knowledge and understanding of health care policies - missions - and operating programs - and extensive specialized knowledge of health care management
• The Chief of Staff develops and maintains good working relationships with affiliates and promotes the professional development of all health care staff
• The Chief of Staff promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which is maintained through: compliance with credentialing and privileging processes - monitoring and evaluation of clinical practices - peer review - consideration of clinical performance patterns in clinical privileging and other appropriate quality improvement activities
• The incumbent spends part of their time providing clinical services to Veterans
• These duties may include - but are not limited to - clinic appointments - conducting diagnostic evaluations - medication management and consults
• Serves as professional liaison of the facility to other VA and federal facilities - the community - affiliates - media - congressional offices and constituent organizations
• Maintains and promotes high ethical and clinical standards that are carried into decision-making processes
• The Chief of Staff: Maintains an environment that provides patient care - educational activity - and administrative planning and evaluation on integration and application of current knowledge
• Establishes mechanisms whereby facility employees - higher level administration - and other VA components are informed - in a timely manner - of clinical program developments that affect them
• Takes an active role as an Executive Leadership Team member - provides advice and/or counsel in defining and accomplishing the facility's mission and goals
• Effectively leads the clinical staff to achieve facility mission and goals
• Represents the organization - internally and externally - in such a manner as to reflect positively on the facility and the Veterans Administration (VA)
• Serves as professional liaison of the facility to other VA and federal facilities - the community - affiliates - media - congressional offices - and constituent organizations
• Maintains and promotes high ethical and clinical standards that are carried into decision-making processes
• Promotes constructive problem resolution in an environment of competing priorities
• Works with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure the facility programs reflect the mission and priorities of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and VA
• Promotes an effective mix - coordination - and support of clinical programs by evaluating current and potential patient population needs - clinical workload and resources - special program mandates and cost/benefit analyses making recommendations to the facility Director and insuring implementation of approved clinical proposals
• Provides leadership to staff through policy guidance and activities on behalf of patients and their clinical care
• Promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which are maintained through: compliance with credentialing and privileging processes - monitoring and evaluation of clinical practice - peer review - consideration of clinical performance patterns in clinical privileging and other appropriate quality improvement activities
• Duties are continued in Education Section.