The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) is looking for a Board Certified Physician to serve as Primary Care Section Chief, at the Valdosta Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), in Valdosta, GA. The Primary Care Section Chief is responsible and accountable for all clinical, administrative, and performance improvement activities in the multi-specialty outpatient clinic. 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 Internal Medicine or Family Medicine 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. Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. Physical requirements outlined below. Preferred Experience: Preference given to individuals with outpatient management experience. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires: light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.); light carrying (15 lbs. and under); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); kneeling (up to 1 hour); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; mental stability; working closely with others; and working alone. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Eligible applicants will be referred until all vacancies are filled. The Primary Care Section Chief duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assures that each patient presenting for care at the clinic receives quality medical care within the limits and resources of the clinic, obtaining referral to another VA facility if resources are not available. Directs and supervises the clinical activities of the physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and health technicians. The Section Chief may also have input on the performance of others such as social workers, and nutritionists. Participates in direct patient care and serves as a role model for peers. Consideration is given to the age of the patient as it relates to the ability to understand directions and provides objective self-assessment or any other medical milieu appropriate to the overall treatment plan. Ensures that staffing, space, equipment, and materials, systems and support services are utilized appropriately to meet the needs of the patients served in the outpatient clinic. Ensures that patients receive care in a safe and therapeutic environment. Works cooperatively with the Gainesville VAMC and other multi-specialty outpatient clinics, and community-based outpatient clinics of NF/SGVHS in coordinating care and arranging admissions of patients to their facilities, as well as acting as a conduit for interdisciplinary communication. Is responsible for enforcement of applicable medical center and outpatient clinic policies, rules and regulations, and medical staff bylaws. Is responsible for meeting the performance improvement requirements of both the Joint Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs, encompassing the information in the outpatient clinic, and for directing, educating, and involving all staff in these areas in the performance improvement process. Completes annual proficiency evaluations of physicians, PAs, APNs, and Nurse Managers, and incorporates provider specific performance improvement data in these appraisals. Participates in the following NF/SGVHS committees: Primary Care and Outpatient Clinics Leadership Council, Primary Care - Mental Health Access Meeting, and others as appropriate. Represents the clinic on these committees, promoting the integration of the multi-specialty clinics, community-based outpatient clinics, and hospital services. Administers and enforces all leave policies for the individuals supervised. Utilizes workload statistics and other data to ensure optimum availability of staff to meet patient needs. Responsible for the oversight of all educational programs in the clinic and participates in the educational programs for primary care. 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Eligible *See \"Additional Information\" section below for more details. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
