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.

Duties

The Chief of Mental Health has broad and ultimate responsibilities for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management, and supervision for the Mental Health Service Line, and is responsible for: Strategic planning to ensure the provision of high-quality, cost-effective mental health services. Developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the health care system strategic plans. Ensuring compliance with accrediting and regulatory agencies as well as monitoring key metrics for the service line. Serving in a key management role, the Chief of Mental Health will: Supervise, plan, coordinate, organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, balance responsibilities, and meet multiple deadlines. Have the knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately as stated in medical center bylaws and VHA directives and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Be able to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view using advanced consultation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills. Have skills in managing and directing the work of large, complex organizational unit and in applying effective management practices to accomplish program goals and objectives. Have the ability to coordinate the efforts of multiple program elements, translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Analyze organizational and operational problems, develop reporting requirements, and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Be skilled in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies. Be able to assess need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues. Develop and maintain continuing programs in the area of professional peer review, organizational improvement, continuing education, scope of practice, clinical privileging and other quality improvement activities while working collaboratively with other disciplines. Adhere to computer security and safety requirements. Implement and monitor environment of care procedures, infection control, and health and safety procedures in compliance with VHA, federal, state, and local policies. Contact on a regular and recurring basis with individuals' representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Actively participate on multiple Medical Center, VISN and National VA committees (e.g., VINEE IRB, Medical Executive Committee (MEC), Professional Standards Board, VISN 1 Mental Health Executive Committee, etc.). Represent the Medical Center at professional community group/events and committees, in conferences/meetings with higher ranking managers, supervisors, and staff from other disciplines or work units, and/or with representatives of local public interest groups, congressional district offices and employees of State and local governments. Prepare special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs, and decision papers ensuring compliance, for the medical center leadership, which may be highly sensitive, confidential, and of a complex nature as requested. Develop policies, procedures, performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. Conduct performance appraisals and perform other clinical and administrative responsibilities related to management of staff to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied. Set training objectives and delegate responsibilities to subordinate sections. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator at [email protected] 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Requirements

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 are encouraged to apply and may 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 Allopathic 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: 3-5 Years of Leadership/Supervisory Experience Experience (including detail assignments) for Chief, Associate Chief, and/or Deputy Chief of a Service 2 Years of Experience working in Mental Health Service 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: See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G2.

Education

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]

Contacts

• Address Manchester VA Medical Center 718 Smyth Road Manchester, NH 03104 US
• Name: Douglas Fitzgerald
• Phone: (817) 876-9847
• Email: [email protected]