Physician-Primary Care Chief Medical Officer

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

Preferred Experience:
Board certification in internal medicine or family medicine.
Three years of experience in a primary care/family medicine practice.
Two years of experience as a Primary Care provider in a VA facility.

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:

• Light lifting, under 15 pounds.
• Light Carrying, under 15 pounds.
• Use of fingers.
• Both hands required.
• Walking one half hour.
• Standing one half hour.
• Kneeling one half hour.
• Repeated bending one half hour.
• Both legs required.

Environmental Factors

• Working alone
• Working closely with others.

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.

Responsibilities:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Contact Brandilyn.Wasson@va.govv, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
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 CMO is required to follow all of the duties and Core Professional Competencies of a Primary Care physician. Additional duties are but not limited to the following:

- Accountable for the coordination and oversight of clinical and administrative activities in the staff and patient care.
- Is responsible for performance improvement activities in the clinic.
- Directs and supervises clinical activities of the Primary Care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
- Supports other Service Chiefs in overseeing the operations of specialty and all ancillary services performed in the clinic.
- Devotes up to 50% of time in direct patient care, serves as a role model for peers.
- Completes annual proficiency evaluations for the Primary Care physicians and physician assistants.
- Oversees the work performed by Primary Care nurse practitioners.
- Incorporates provider specific performance improvement data in these appraisals.
- Is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all education programs in the clinic.
- The position includes broad management and administrative responsibilities.
- The CMO is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the clinic. This includes regular assessment of building function for safety and effectiveness and facilitation of necessary corrective actions. These may include efforts by clinic staff, by other VA staff or by the lessor affiliations. It also includes maintaining effective teamwork amongst clinic staff.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30-4 pm or 8:00 to 4:30 pm.