The incumbent serves as the Associate Chief of Staff of the Mental Health (ACOS MH) for the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff (COS). They will be responsible for setting overall goals for the Mental Health Care Line that comply and support Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and VASDHS strategic goals & objectives. 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. Board Certification - Board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Three years supervisory experience in a Mental Health or healthcare setting. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary. The position will require some physical effort such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, typing, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate 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 The incumbent is ultimately responsible for overall MHCL clinical and administrative operations currently structured around a hybrid Care Line Model that is veteran-centric and recovery-oriented. The MHCL is an interdisciplinary service and its hybrid organizational structure aligns with distinct roles and responsibilities for the ACOS MHCL, Deputy ACOSs for the MHCL, service chiefs and discipline leads (psychiatry and psychology chiefs, associate nurse executive for mental health, and mental health social work program coordinator), and section chiefs overseeing 8 functionally distinct sections across the continuum of care. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Direct all activities of the Mental Health Care Line to include budget & fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, clinical end administrative program development, management and evaluation of services and programs, and ensuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimal mental health care to veteran in the context of appropriate utilization of resources. Establish MHS objectives congruent with and reflective of the philosophy and objectives of VA, VHA, VISN, and VASDHS. Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate complex integrated mental health programs. Provide oversight of the comprehensive inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health care for Veteran's diagnosed with acute and chronic mental health and/or substance use disorders. Provide direct and indirect oversight to the educational and research missions of the MHCL. Collaborate with senior management officials and service chiefs to negotiate, persuade, decide on, and coordinate work related changes affecting the operations of the MHCL. Represent VASDHS on issues within his/her purview at meetings, conferences, community events, etc. Plan and direct the administrative and technical aspects of personnel management, coordinating such functions through subordinate managers. Utilize sound management practices, using knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, supporting the partnership process with employee unions by actively seeking opportunities to develop productive labor relations, and guided by ethical standards of his or her profession. Accountable for all applicable VA performance measures and responsible for quality improvement activities within mental health, using data tools for collection and analysis. Collaborate with senior management officials including the Chief of Organizational Improvement and Quality Management to ensure compliance with applicable performance measures and practice standards. Shares responsibility with the Chief of Staff for monitoring Patient Safety and Risk Management issues in Mental Health. Responsible for a multi-million dollar budget, including staffing of about 600 FTEE, equipment, leases, non-VA care services, contract funds, etc. Identify need for and recommend major equipment acquisition and replacement with consideration being given to timeliness of acquisition and cost effectiveness of new equipment. Work with Human Resource Management Service in the employment of Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38 staff. Provide direct services to patients and their families utilizing a comprehensive range of techniques, skills, and resources. Work with subordinates to ensure optimal utilization of training resources, if appropriate, and high quality training is provided within the outpatient MHCL units. Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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.