The Chief of the Emergency Medicine Service is responsible for the clinical and administrative functions of the Emergency Department. The incumbent is responsible for participation and oversight of staff patient care performance measures, compliance, training, performance improvement, participation in various Medical Center committees to ensure performance measures are met, compliance with applicable rules and regulations, as well as participation in system redesign 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Additional Requirements: Recent substantial experience in provision of Emergency Medicine care (recent practice of the full range of ED procedures and practices) within the last 2 years, or recent graduation from a training program in Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine. Board certification or board eligibility in Emergency Medicine by the ABEM. Preferred Experience: Minimum of four (4) to five (5) years working within an Emergency Medicine environment. Expertise in the management of Emergency Medicine and disorders, and the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high quality, evidence-based care to Veterans across the spectrum of disease severity. Ability to identify patient needs and to provide the care needed to promote improvement. Emergency medicine Managerial/Supervisory experience Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; straight pulling (6 hours); pushing (2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (6 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (6 hours); ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted).
Duties include but are not limited to: Participating in all required UM/QM activities relating to the Emergency Department to monitor the preadmission screening process and its success in impacting InterQual appropriate inpatient admissions/observation status utilization performance measures. Serving as a liaison between the Emergency Medicine Section and the other VA specialty sections, as well as the University of Washington Department of Emergency Medicine. The teaching program is affiliated with the University Of Washington School of Medicine, and a faculty appointment commensurate with training and experience will also be considered. Serving as a staff Emergency Department physician. The incumbent will be responsible for all aspects of medical care delivered to patients in the Emergency Department. Performing all services required in the practice of Emergency Medicine in the context of the VA system and document appropriately in the electronic record. Providing educational experience to appropriate health care personnel who are involved in ED care (e.g. admitting or consultative service team members such as fellows, residents, medical students, social work interns/staff, physician assistant and nursing students, Utilization management personnel, and Emergency Medical Services staff). Application of accepted protocols for assessment of individual patients presenting with various medical conditions according to accepted community and VA standards (pneumonia, Acute Chest Pain Syndrome, Congestive Heart Failure, abdominal pain, delirium, intoxications, Respiratory Failure, Minor Trauma, Acute Mental Health issues, etc). Arranging for appropriate follow-up care for those patients who are discharged from the Emergency Department. Representing the Emergency Department at all applicable hospital administrative and patient care meetings to include, but not limited to: UM Committee, HSM Service Section Chief meetings, ED huddles, RPIWs related to the ED, Peer Review Committee, and other committees as required by hospital bylaws or policies. Monitoring 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, including faculty development programs where applicable. Regularly meeting with Emergency Department providers and nursing staff to discuss departmental performance and barriers to achieving performance measure/workflow success. Developing, implementing, and sustaining an orientation/standard work manual/and-or process for all providers in the Emergency Department. Supervision and monitoring overall performance of all providers in the Emergency Department and provide performance evaluations, improvement opportunities and/or interventions as appropriate. This includes performing FPPE/OPPEs, performance evaluations, and other data dashboards. Reviewing and responding to all Emergency Department ePIR and eROCs in a timely manner. Maintaining an up-to-date schedule which provides appropriate provider coverage in the Emergency Department. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.