The Assistant Chief of Medical Service (ACOS MS) provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic leadership for Medical Service to ensure clinical excellence. This includes planning initiatives and developing programs in collaboration with other services to ensure coordination and streamlining of services, and enhancement of cost-effective care provided to Veterans, and will participate in top level decisions and policy design with significant impact.
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: Citizenship: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) encourages any eligible non-citizens to apply. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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. Licensure: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OR 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. Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Experience: The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician, have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019 for more information
This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year, up to four years)!! In addition, salary can go above the maximum amount shown if candidate meets annual performance metrics. A primary objective of the ACOS MS is to mentor and lead highly competent, satisfied staff dedicated to providing the highest quality care centered around Veteran needs and optimizing health and well-being. The ACOS MS is responsible for implementing evidence-based best practices and ensuring ongoing provider education and learning and should possess the ability to promote innovation, be able to lead others and inspire organizational excellence. Responsible for providing direct oversight to acute care medical service/inpatient operations. Responsible for covering inpatient wards to assist in clinical care/ education. This position includes responsibilities pertaining to functioning as the site director for internal medicine residency and providing oversight to medical student education. Duties and Responsibilities: 50% Administrative, 50% Clinical - Inpatient and/or Outpatient Oversight of Performance Improvement/Quality Assurance/Utilization Review and evaluation to ensure that the four dimensions of care are continuously evaluated and improved: Access. Quality of Care, Customer Service/Patient Satisfaction, and Utilization Management / Efficiency of Care Serves as the responsible official for Medical Service Equipment Inventory List (EIL), participates in completion of annual survey of inventory, and report of survey for any damaged, end of life cycle, or missing equipment Supervise and evaluate the performance of Physicians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, and Physician assistants who are assigned to the Service Responsible for the assessment of service line needs and takes the lead in the development of resource (staff, space, equipment) requests for Medical Service Develops and implements appropriate policies, procedures, plans, and professional standards that guide and support Medicine Service operations Responsible for completion of Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE), Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) for initial hires Ensure that all providers maintain continuing education and certifications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support if required and Basic Cardiac Life Support Ensure that providers possess the necessary skills appropriate to patient care in an Inpatient and/or Outpatient care setting, and Specialty Care setting Demonstrate ability to appoint and/or build interdisciplinary team members with complimentary skills for maximum team effort/success Contributes to staff growth and development of effective teams and individuals in the team Ensure physician staffing requirements for coverage of the Medicine Service are met Research problems that impact the quality of care delivery Ensure the ethical and competent practice of Medicine Service Serve on important interdisciplinary boards and committees as appointed by the Chief of Staff Support all existing safety and infection control practices relevant to this position Contributes to and keeps abreast of new safety and ergonomic practices as they are developed Responsible for training and teaching students Coach staff in team building VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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 Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am - 430pm