The Assistant Chief of Specialty Medicine position entails a combined physician appointment in Specialty Medical Service of the VA TN Valley Health System (Murfreesboro Campus) and with the Department of Medicine at Meharry Medical College. Physician will provide internal medicine care, see patients referred to a medical section in an outpatient setting as needed, and participate in the inpatient medicine consult service. Approximately, 50% of the time will be devoted to clinical activities.
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: Be board certified in Internal Medicine and/or an ABIM Specialty Board Have documented experience supervising and teaching medical students, residents, and fellows Have experience and publications in either basic or clinic research Qualify for an appointment as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at Meharry Medical College at least the level of Assistant Professor. Significant experience with quality improvement initiatives strongly preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The administrative portions of the duties are sedentary but requires periodic walking and standing. The clinical portions of the duties will require regular walking and frequent standing while providing patient care.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 FUNCTION OR SCOPE: As the Assistant Chief, Murfreesboro Campus he/she has supervisory and administrative responsibilities specifically delegated by the Chief of Specialty Medical Service for overseeing and evaluating attending physicians at the Murfreesboro Campus. Assistant Chief will help oversee quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives within the Service. Additionally, he/she functions as preceptor for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, fellows, residents, and medical students as assigned by TVHS. As Assistant Chief he/she may intermittently provide administrative coverage of the Service when the Chief is on leave. Assistant Chief will interact with other TVHS Service Chiefs to coordinate care of patients at the Murfreesboro Campus. Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. The physician will provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures and will handle conflicts and problems when dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. Assistant Chief will assist in resolution and service recovery related to patient concerns submitted via the Patient Advocate Office. The Assistant Chief, Specialty Medical Service, Murfreesboro will have oversight of administrative matters assigned to him/her by Chief, Specialty Medical Service. Also, the Assistant Chief, Specialty Medical Service, Murfreesboro will continue to provide clinical specialty care to Veterans on a part-time basis. The Assistant Chief, Specialty Medical Service, Murfreesboro will maintain smooth communication with the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Meharry Medical College to ensure collaborative approaches to physician staffing and the Resident/Student Education Program. Treats patients 18 years of age or greater. The physician will protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws Federal Regulations, VA statures and policy and VHA policy. The physician protects data from unauthorized release, or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion and follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files and release of access codes, etc. Uses MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, inserting, and deleting text, formatting letters, reports and memoranda, and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses MS Excel or other comparable spreadsheet software to develop and change spreadsheets to graphically display data. Uses MS PowerPoint or other comparable graphics to develop presentation materials. Work Schedule: 8-12-Hour shifts, some weekend coverage