VANTHCS is seeking a dynamic physician leader to serve our nation's Veterans as the Chief of Geriatrics & Extended Care Service, leading a resourceful team that operates our two Community Living Centers. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of geriatric care while ensuring the highest quality of life for our Veteran residents, implementing innovative care models, and fostering a compassionate and collaborative environment.
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. 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. License/Registration: 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. Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Grandfathering Provision: 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the occupation at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Such employees are considered to have met the basic qualification requirements for the purposes of transferring or reassignment to another physician position within VA. Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If a physician who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation or VA employment, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry or reemployment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting & carrying (15-44 pounds), Straight pulling (1-2 hrs.), Pushing (1-2 hrs.), Reaching above shoulders, Walking & Standing (4 hrs.), Kneeling (1 hr.), Repeated bending (2 hrs.), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color, Hearing. Environmental Factors: Working closely with others, Protracted or irregular hours of work, Stressful working conditions, and Exposure to bodily fluids.
Chief, Geriatrics & Extended Care specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice, and Palliative Medicine. Chief is responsible for oversight of MOD staff and operations. Provides direct patient/resident care including comprehensive management of the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the Veteran (admission H&P, all day-to-day aspects of patient care, inter-professional team meetings, discharge summary, care coordination, participation in care planning and any family conferences). Supervises the other CLC physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and administrative staff leading meetings that can be administrative, process or education oriented. Participates in performance improvement and contributes to improved quality of care through mortality and morbidity reviews, peer reviews, and occurrence screens. Participates in preparation for surveys. Collaborates with the Admissions Coordinator to ensure safe and appropriate CLC admissions, maximizes the utilization of CLC beds, and maintains transparency in the admission process. Supports and directs the teaching mission at the CLC in coordination with the Medical Facility and any outside teaching organizations. Participates in service and/or medical center committees as assigned. Complies with all quality performance measures and improvement programs. Exercises full professional responsibilities for their findings, interpretations, decisions, recommendations and reports in accordance with the clinical privileges this institution provided to them. Responsible for meeting all clinical performance measures related to Geriatrics and Extended Care and assisting hospital leadership, when possible, in meeting facility-wide measures Participates in wide-ranging and higher-level management functions for Geriatrics and Extended Care through participation and planning in operational boards, councils and committees within VANTHCS, the VISN and VHA. Determines goals, priorities and direction for the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service and its clinical operations and administrative functions. Responsible for the fiscal management of Geriatrics and Extended Care Service. Oversees all personnel management aspects of Geriatrics and Extended Care Service, including credentialing and privileging, defining scope of practice/privileges for medicine personnel, focused and ongoing professional practice evaluations, ongoing performance evaluations and assures the maintenance of continuing education for staff physicians. Responsible for overseeing competencies for direct report staff, along with the development and completion of performance standards and appraisals. Addresses grievances, administers disciplinary actions and nominates incentive awards in all matters concerning Geriatrics and Extended Care Service staff members. Responsible for successful external reviews, including TJC, CLC oversight reviews and implementation of approved recommendations Perform other duties assigned by the Deputy Chief of Staff or Chief of Staff. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified individual based on Applicant's unique qualifications and/or needs of the organization 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: TBD (Typically M-F, 0800-1630 CST (except Federal Holidays) with occasional weekends and after-hours work, as needed)