Summary

The Deputy Chief of Staff reports to the Chief of Staff and provides administrative - clinical - and programmatic leadership to help ensure the achievement of the Medical Center's clinical - research - and educational goals. The incumbent serves as a key clinical resource for the Chief of Staff. The Deputy Chief of Staff has all authorities as does the Chief of Staff in the context of an acting role in the absence of the Chief of Staff.

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 Certified Preferred Experience: Leadership Skills - Strong Communication Skills - and Ability to Build Coalitions Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The Deputy Chief of Staff will work with the clinical service chiefs and performance measure champions to improve processes to meet the performance measure goals and improve utilization management
• Reviews requests for contracts including the Medical Officer of the Day (MOD) contract and helps determine the best way to obtain the required resources
• The Deputy Chief of Staff will have future supervisory responsibilities both clinically and administratively of a variety of staff - who are aligned under the Chief of Staff Office - and serves on a broad spectrum of medical center committees - task forces - etc
• Responsibilities include hands on clinical work - oversight - clinical appeals and administration of all aspects of patient care
• Additionally - the incumbent is directly accountable to the Chief of Staff for clinical program activities and overall compliance to VA - VHA - and VISN wide policies and procedures
• This includes - but is not limited to the following along with other duties as assigned: Clinical Work Provides direct patient care in the physician's specific specialty
• Customer Service Bases planning on patient and staff feedback - performance metrics and data - and projected needs
• Plans the provision of services with a patient centered vision (in alignment with VHA guidelines and policies) to enhance patient care and shared decision making
• Quality Improvement Serves as lead physician for all clinical operations that are under the purview of the Chief of Staff office
• Develops a high reliability organization through direction of the continuous measurement and improvement of the quality of care provided by the service
• Plans - coordinates - and ensures high quality care through utilization of multiple quality measurement tools
• Education Encourages and supports education missions
• Facilitates translation of research findings into improved patient outcomes
• Budget and Fiscal Management Under the direction of the VAMC governance structure - collaborates with the Chief of Staff and the service chiefs in the development and execution of the overall Medical Center strategic and business plan
• Collaborates with other Medical Center leaders to develop initiatives and programs in order to ensure coordination of service - reduction of redundancies - and enhancement of cost effectiveness - efficiency and overall productivity
• Stays abreast of and educates staff about changing conditions in health care
• Organizational Stewardship Demonstrates core values of integrity - commitment - advocacy - respect - excellence and is guided by accountability and transparency
• Actively participates on committees - task forces - and other groups at the Medical Center and affiliates to assist in policy changes - as needed
• Collaborates with executive - managerial - and clinical leadership in formulating local Medical Center Policy - resource planning for staffing - equipment and space
• Team Building Develops an interdisciplinary team of innovative - highly motivated individuals who are continuously striving for excellence in patient care and customer service
• Builds partnerships with the community to enhance Medical Center goals
• Human Resources Management Maintains good labor-management relations with the unions to resolve personnel problems - proactively plan for changes to the work environment - and develop a high reliability workforce
• Responsible for development and implementation of competencies - providing opportunities for continuing education - peer review - career development and professional enrichment for subordinate employees
• Communications Demonstrates leadership in addressing ethical issues that impact clients and staff in/or beyond the organization/local health care community
• Maintains privacy - confidentiality - and security of patient and client data
• Leadership/Supervisory This position will have future supervisory responsibilities
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): An incentive is authorized for highly qualified candidates
• 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 to Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm