Summary

The New Mexico VA Healthcare System is seeking a Lead Hospitalist Physician (Assistant Hospital Medicine Section Chief), interested in working in an active internal medicine hospitalist group within an educational system. The primary responsibility of the assistant section chief is to act as the acting section chief while the section chief is unavailable or unable to perform their functions.

Qualifications

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
• Additional Requirement: Candidates must be ABIM Board eligible or board certified in Internal Medicine
• Candidates must be eligible for a faculty appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico based upon qualifications and experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment
• Must be physically, emotionally, and mentally competent and able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to yourself or others.

Duties

• Nestled in the heart of Southwest, Albuquerque is a vibrant city celebrated for its unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern amenities
• With 310 days of sunshine each year, residents and visitors alike enjoy abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and exploration
• The NMVAHS is proud to serve veterans, providing advanced medical care and fostering a supportive environment for its healthcare professionals
• 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 Major duties of this position include but are not limited to: Assisting and/or standing in for the section chief in the following duties: Running daily section huddles, attending daily section chief huddle, and reporting section status
• Attending the weekly section chief meeting, conducting the weekly section business/educational meeting, and being the conduit to and from the hospitalist team and the medicine department leadership
• Creating and adjusting the schedule (four academic services, 2 non-teach team, triage attending, and a backup provider 52 weeks per year, and adjust to emergencies as needed) including managing leave and CLC cross coverage schedule
• Responding to and managing issues as they arise including but not limited to staffing needs, census problems, various systems issues including using paper orders when CPRS is down, and being available for guidance to the staff when complex concerns occur
• Stand in for the section chief with regular UNM division meetings and requirements such as annual faculty self-assessments and promotion nominations
• Responding to PUMA inquiries, coding inquiries, JSPRs, and PATS-R cases as they arise
• Assist during meetings and on projects to keep continuity and hospitalist presence on dozens of matters
• Stand in for the section chief with UNM internal medicine residency matters including monitoring for adherence to ACGME rules and regulations
• Creating and maintaining a collaborative, supportive, and positive work environment
• Organizing Spring and Fall section/division retreats
• Assist in development of more mentorship roles within the section to encourage more consistent and supportive professional and development of the team
• Develop projects and passions of their own that lead to improvements in workplace functions such as educational developments, administrative improvements, patient care improvement projects
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm