Summary

The Chief oversees all physicians - providers and administrative staff in Medicine Service. Incumbent is responsible for the full array of clinical operations and administrative functions of inpatient General and Internal Medicine - along with the subspecialties of Allergy - Cardiology - Dermatology - Emergency Medicine - Endocrinology - Gastroenterology - Geriatrics/Palliative Care - Hematology/Oncology - Hospital Medicine - Infectious Disease - Nephrology - Pulmonary - Rheumatology - and Sleep Medicine.

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: Board Certification: Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in the specialty/sub-specialty indicated
• Demonstrate a record of academic accomplishment commensurate with the rank of associate or full professor and will be eligible for academic appointment through the University of California San Diego
• Preferred Experience: Prior Veteran's Health Administration experience - clinical leadership - and managerial skills
• Administering programs - clinical operations - teaching and research
• Prior supervisory experience and established leadership
• Data analysis - process improvement - performance monitoring and quality assurance
• 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.

Duties

• The Chief of Medicine is responsible for oversight of all physician staff - providers and administrative staff in Medicine Service
• In particular - the Chief of Medicine is responsible for the full array of clinical operations and administrative functions of inpatient General and Internal Medicine - along with the subspecialties of Allergy - Cardiology - Dermatology - Emergency Medicine - Endocrinology - Gastroenterology - Geriatrics - Hematology/Oncology - Hospital Medicine - Infectious Disease - Nephrology - Palliative Care - Pulmonary - Rheumatology - and Sleep Medicine
• Major duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for participation in the promotion and oversight of appropriate performance improvement and systems redesign activities and advancing the principles of access and timeliness of care
• Directs health care programs - delegating authority and responsibility to meet both VASDHS and Medicine Service goals and to apply that knowledge to improve and optimize health care
• Supervises the clinical Section Chiefs in addition to Medicine Service administrative staff and responsible for assigning duties to staff within Medicine Service
• Responsible for meeting all clinical performance measures related to Medicine Service and assisting hospital leadership - when possible - in meeting facility-wide measures Collaborates with hospital leadership in identifying strategic opportunities and initiatives Participates in wide-ranging and higher-level management functions for Medicine Service through participation and planning in operational boards - councils and committees within VASDHS - the VISN and VHA
• Serve as the primary liaison for common interests between VASDHS and the UCSD School of Medicine - and specifically - the Department of Medicine and its Subspecialty Divisions
• Determines goals - priorities and direction for the Medicine Service and its clinical operations and administrative functions
• Responsible for the fiscal management of Medicine Service
• Oversees all personnel management aspects of Medicine Service - including credentialing and privileging - defining scope of practice/privileges for medicine personnel - focused and ongoing professional practice evaluations - ongoing performance evaluations and assures the maintenance of continuing education for staff physicians
• Facilitates and encourages academic physicians to pursue education and research opportunities
• The incumbent collaborates effectively in this mission with the Chair - Department of Medicine - UCSD School of Medicine
• He/she will also oversee time allocation and activities of physicians involved in VA-approved and VA-funded research activities and review research proposals
• Conducts regular meetings to keep staff informed of all clinical business - policies - procedures - goals and priorities
• Working with high-level administrative support staff - the incumbent will be responsible for the development of position descriptions and competencies for direct report staff - along with the development and completion of performance standards and appraisals
• Addresses grievances - administers disciplinary actions and nominates incentive awards in all matters concerning Medicine Service staff members
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate 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 - PST