The Chief of the Emergency Department reports directly to the Chief of Medicine and is responsible for the clinical and administrative functions of the Emergency Department physicians and nurse practitioners.
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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 4 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted).
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 Section Chief of the Emergency Department Duties and Responsibilities Attend and represent the Emergency Department at all applicable hospital administrative and patient care meetings to include, but not limited to: UM Committee, Systems Redesign, Medicine Service Section Chief meetings, ED huddles, RPIWs related to the ED, Cardiology Performance Improvement Workgroup, Peer Review Committee, Meet with all providers in the Emergency Department regularly to review protocols, procedures, expectations for transported/transferred patients, including minor trauma victims. Monitor established VA/VISN/Joint Commission, etc, performance measures and identified goals for the Emergency Department (e.g. physician report card), and provide providers with group and individual feedback on how to improve and/or sustain achieved success in such metrics/measures. Regularly meet ("huddle") with Emergency Department providers and nursing staff to discuss departmental performance and barriers to achieving performance measure/workflow success. Develop solutions at the lowest level whenever possible, employing LEAN management principles and thinking. Work to eliminate wasted efforts/work/testing in the Emergency Department, and develop and/or utilize preexisting patient care protocols (Acute Coronary Syndrome, Stroke, Sepsis) and develop tools to monitor the success of those efforts. \ Develop, implement and sustain an orientation/ standard work manual for all providers in the Emergency Department. Work with the VA Utilization Management (UM) department staff to monitor the preadmission screening process and its success in impacting InterQual appropriate inpatient admission/observation status utilization performance measures. Monitor overall performance of all providers' in the Emergency Department and provide performance improvement opportunities and/or interventions as appropriate. This includes, but is not limited to performing FPPE/OPPEs and ensuring the RVU tool reflects appropriate data. Conduct Peer Reviews of Emergency Department providers and attend the Peer Review Committee on a monthly basis. Review and respond to all Emergency Department ePIR and eROCs in a timely manner. Monitor Emergency Department workforce needs and budget. Collaborate with the Business Manager to develop budgets and conduct a yearly needs assessment Maintain an up-to-date schedule which provides appropriate provider coverage in the Emergency Department and the Urgent Visit Center (UVC). Lead all recruitment efforts for providers in the Emergency Department. Develop recruitment and retention strategies to ensure highly trained and experienced providers seek/maintain employment with this Medical Center. Additional Emergency Department Physician Duties and Responsibilities: Responsible for all aspects of medical care delivered to patients in the ED. Provide or assist residents and/or the nurse practitioner in the process of evaluation and treatment of the ED patient, and actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to medical interventions. Evaluate the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status during their stay in the ED. A progress note is written in the patient's chart. Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident or Nurse Practitioner, and attending notes as appropriate. Perform outpatient medical evaluations and treatment. During scheduled tour hours, staff Emergency Medicine physicians shall be available for all emergency interventions as part of the ED staff team. Appropriately credentialed and privileged. They participate in various hospital committees, Medicine or Ambulatory Service and hospital in-service programs, and education programs of the Medicine Service and the hospital. They are also involved in continuous quality improvement through the VA peer review process. Shall be responsible for outpatient care, and graduate and undergraduate medical education, and scientific research as appropriate. Work Schedule: Full-time