Physician (Chief of Medicine)

The VAMC Memphis is a very large facility serving over 47,000 Veterans. VAMC Memphis provides extensive primary, secondary, and tertiary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAMC Memphis is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Memphis and nine Community Based Outpatient Clinics. VAMC Memphis is an academic medical facility with teaching and research programs.

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: BLS and/or ACLS Certification as determined by MCM
Board Eligible or Board Certified
Preferred Experience: Leadership at the section Chief level or above, experience with an academic affiliate.

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: Moderate Lifting (15-25 lbs); Moderate Carrying (15-25 lbs); Straight Pulling {up to 2-3 hours); Pushing (up to 2-3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Walking (up to 1-2 hours); Kneeling (up to 1 -2 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable; Far vision correctable; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Responsibilities:

This vacancy will remain open until filled.

The Chief, Medicine position at the VA Memphis will encompass the breadth of clinical care, including inpatient consultation, outpatient clinic and management of the Service in addition to supervision of other LIP's, staff and trainees assigned to the Service.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Ensures clinical care is delivered in accordance with hospital and VHA policy, meeting or exceeding community standards and VHA national benchmarks.
• Having primary responsibility for supervising other LIP's and staff in the Service, and for ensuring that staff are performing to the highest standards of clinical care excellence, time, efficiency, professional and ethical behavior.
• Ensures care of patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings are smooth, patient centric and safe. This includes, but is not limited to, collaboration and good communication with the Emergency Department, Subspecialty Services and/or Clinics admitting patients to the hospital and transitions to outpatient care.
• Supervises all operational aspects of the Service, including establishment of the highest clinical care standards, operations, and quality.
• Develops strong, collegial working relationships with other Service and Section Chiefs within the medical center (both clinical and administrative).
• Oversees the development and implementation of systems redesigns projects and quality improvements programs within the Service.
• Participates in clinical review process such as tort claims, peer reviews, management reviews and administrative activities, as directed by the Chief of Staff or designee.
• Participates as a Chief in the organization's continued accreditation readiness activities.
• Uses astute business acumen to optimally utilize resources and adapt to changes, exercising leadership and flexibility.
• Maintains current medical knowledge and technical skills, and provides both leadership and documentation that all LIP's within the Service are competent with respect to current privileging within the Service.
• Responsible for all Service Chief responsibilities as stated in the most current Medical Staff By-Laws of VAMC Memphis.
• Maintain the clinical ability to perform full general clinical examinations on established or newly consulted patients in the clinics, on inpatient wards or in Emergency Department as needed.
• Promote the expansion of non-traditional care such as (but not limited to) CVT, electronic consultation (e-consult), group clinics, telephone clinics, secure messaging to improve access to care.
• Required to be eligible for a Faculty of appointment at UTHSC. VAMC Memphis is integrally involved in all teaching and research activities at the University.
• Recommending appointment and clinical privileges for each member of the division and others requesting privileges within the division as well as assuring that individuals with privileges competently provide services.
• Serving on facility, VISN, and National Committees and workgroups as appropriate.
• Overseeing professional and administrative activities within the assigned division including selection, orientation and continuing education of staff in collaboration with other Physician leaders.
• Other duties as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants.

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 8:00AM - 4:30PM