Summary

The Chief of the Emergency Medicine Service reports directly to the Chief of Staff and is responsible for the clinical and administrative functions of the Emergency Department. The incumbent is responsible for participation and oversight of staff physicians and NP/PA/ICT patient care performance measures - compliance - training - and performance improvement - recruitment and retention of highly qualified and experienced providers - participation in various Medical Center committees.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board Certification in Emergency Medicine - Internal Medicine - General Surgery or Family Medicine
• Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of leadership experience at chief or assistant chief level - preferably in the Department of Veterans Affairs system
• Board certification in Emergency Medicine desired - however those with board certification in Internal Medicine - Family Practice - General surgery will be considered if they have a minimum 5 years of Emergency Medicine Experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Functional requirements may include walking (2 hours) - standing (2 hours) - kneeling (2 hours) - repeated bending (2 hours) - climbing - use of legs and arms - both eyes required - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid may be permitted) - emotional and mental stability.

Duties

• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available 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 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Duties and responsibilities: Representing the Emergency Department at all applicable hospital administrative and patient care meetings to include - but not limited to: UM Committee - Systems Redesign - Medicine Service Section Chief meetings - ED huddles - RPIWs related to the ED - Cardiology Performance Improvement Workgroup - Peer Review Committee - and participating in the VA EMFAC (Emergency Medicine Field Advisory Committee)
• Meeting with all providers in the Emergency Department regularly to review protocols - procedures - expectations for transported/transferred patients - including minor trauma victims
• Monitoring established VA/VISN/Joint Commission - etc - performance measures and identified goals for the Emergency Department (e.g
• physician report card) - and provide providers with group and individual feedback on how to improve and/or sustain achieved success in such metrics/measures - including faculty development programs where applicable
• Regularly meet (\"huddle\") with Emergency Department providers and nursing staff to discuss departmental performance and barriers to achieving performance measure/workflow success
• Develop solutions at the lowest level whenever possible - employing LEAN management principles and thinking
• Work to eliminate wasted efforts/work/testing in the Emergency Department - and develop and/or utilize preexisting patient care protocols (Acute Coronary Syndrome - Stroke - Sepsis) and develop tools to monitor the success of those efforts
• Developing - implementing - and sustaining an orientation/standard work manual/and-or process for all providers in the Emergency Department
• Work with the VA Utilization Management (UM) department staff to monitor the preadmission screening process and its success in impacting InterQual appropriate inpatient admission/observation status utilization performance measures
• Monitoring overall performance of all providers' in the Emergency Department and provide performance improvement opportunities and/or interventions as appropriate
• This includes - but is not limited to performing FPPE/OPPEs and ensuring the RVU tool reflects appropriate data
• Conducting Peer Reviews of Emergency Department providers and attend the Peer Review Committee on a monthly basis
• Reviewing and responding to all Emergency Department ePIR and eROCs in a timely manner
• Monitor Emergency Department workforce needs and budget
• Collaborate with the Medicine Service Group Practice Manager to develop budgets and conduct a yearly needs assessment Maintaining an up-to-date schedule which provides appropriate provider coverage in the Emergency Department
• Recruitment efforts for providers in the Emergency Department
• Develop recruitment and retention strategies to ensure highly trained and experienced providers seek/maintain employment with this Medical Center
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards.