Summary

The Chief of Staff is responsible for the overall clinical and administrative management of an interdisciplinary team delivering customer service and patient-focused - quality care with the VISN 12 healthcare system at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center located in Iron Mountain - MI.

Qualifications

The Chief of Staff will preferably have a Management Degree - and/or experience in managerial - professional or clinical positions in a health care setting. In addition - the Chief of Staff should possess board certification in a medical specialty. Training or skills in risk management and/or continuous quality improvement is a must. The Chief of Staff should have outstanding skills working with teams to accomplish the goals of the organization - along with the ability to manage complex programs. The Chief of Staff will be responsible for the overall clinical and administrative management of an interdisciplinary team - delivering customer service and patient-focused - quality care with the VISN 12 healthcare system. He/she will report directly to the Medical Center Director and must work in a matrix environment with responsibility to the Medical Center Director and Network Medical Officer as well. The Chief of Staff works with Veterans - health care providers - and administrators throughout the facility to ensure appropriate care is provided to the Veteran population. Must be able to interpret - understand - and be in compliance with related standards and directives in relation to patient care activities. 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 Preferred Experience: Hospital leadership experience
• At least one year experience as a Department Chair or Service Chief
• Degree in Management
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary - although some physical effort may be required
• Work environment is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office except when performing clinical duties
• May require occasional travel.

Duties

• Responsible for leadership and direction of the Medical Center Clinical Staff and Product Line Services under the Chief of Staff's direction
• Responsible for planning - organizing - developing - implementing - controlling - and refining the comprehensive delivery of care to Veterans
• Responsible for implementing VA policies and regulations - as well as VISN and facility level policies and regulations
• Develops and improves facility level policies to ensure proper handling of clinical issues
• Responsible for financial management of the budget and expenditures in the Chief of Staff Service - as well as providing oversight for budget of those services under the Chief of Staff
• Responsible for conducting all activities involving personnel in a manner that is consistent with Human Resources guidelines and regulations - including appropriate involvement and information flow of Chief of Staff service plans and operations with the Union
• Collaborates with other facility leaders to function as a key participant in the Director and Chief of Staffs top advisory group
• Maintains a collaborative working relationship with top management to assure full support and coordination among the programs in all Clinical Services
• Monitors and evaluates the quality and appropriateness of care provided in all specialties - ensuring that one level of care is provided across all care settings
• Ensures participation in performance improvement activities - including the monitoring and evaluation of clinical/professional performance of all medical care providers
• Responsible for communicating and educating clinical staff about performance measures - goals for achieving and exceeding them - and how to do so
• This communication is expected to take place through a variety of modes - such as at regular meetings - through e-mail - formal trainings - one-on-one sessions - and any other creative ways (such as incentives) to help clinical staff contribute to the attainment and surpassing of performance measures
• Responsible for identifying areas of weakness within service line and taking positive - proactive actions to counteract these weaknesses - such as staff and/or provider morale
• Responsible for creating and projecting the philosophy that management is available to assist the providers in accomplishing the Iron Mountain VAMC mission
• Responsible for promoting an atmosphere of appreciation toward the providers and their ideas and priorities - while simultaneously holding providers accountable for high quality care and a good work ethic
• Ensures compliance with Nationally established quality indicators and monitors Clinical Responsibilities: The Chief of Staff is responsible for providing backup coverage as needed in clinical services
• Provides consultation to the physicians - nurse practitioners and physician assistants working in the Clinical Services
• Participates in the consult review process for referrals being submitted off-station under the third-party administrator or Community Care
• After conducting a clinical review - provides written recommendation to the Medical Center Director pertaining to Veteran clinical appeal requests - ensuring completion
• Ensures compliance with Nationally established quality indicators and monitors Performs duties within scope of practice to the standards set forth by the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) as well as the Medical Center by Laws Guides patients and families in obtaining the best service and information is accurate for both internal/external sources Must be proficient with typing for utilization of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) - and supporting systems
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive: Approved Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Approved 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 - 08:00am-4:30pm (position requires flexibility in hours per facility requirements)