The Assistant Chief of Surgery is responsible for monitoring the quality of care provided by providers, overseeing the Advanced Practice Providers (APP) and the Educational program for the Trainees (both Medical and Physician Assistant students, as well as the Resident Physicians) assigned to or in the Department of Surgery at the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS).

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule: Full-time, 7:00am - 5:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible. 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 Responsible for developing the scope of practice for those employees assigned to the Department of Surgery and assuring implementation of quality improvement measures along with developing action plans to meet performance measures with regard to Department of Surgery quality in support of the VISN 22 performance measures. Developing, planning, clarifying, administering, and managing the Quality, Education/Training and APP programs within the Department of Surgery at the PVAHCS and its relationship within VISN 22. Designates surgical care priorities and objectives, and supervises and evaluates performance of the APP staff assigned to the program. Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance. Responsible for advising management of specific clinical or administrative issues within the Department of Surgery with respect to Quality, Education/Training and APP programs. Serves as a consultant and advisor to subordinates, peers, and administration. Duties include but not limited to the following: Clinical Responsibilities Incumbent spends 75% of time with clinical responsibilities. During clinical time the incumbent will: Diagnose and treat Surgical disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care. Provide supervision, as appropriate, of trainees conducting direct Surgical care. Be responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center as appropriate and outcome data as appropriate. Consult with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Remain involved in program evaluation. Maintain full clinical privileges as a member of the Medical Staff. Abide by Medical Staff By-laws and Rules. Administrative Responsibilities Incumbent spends 25% of time managing the Quality, Education/Training and APP programs within the Department of Surgery. This includes but is not limited to supervising a variety of positions including administrative positions and providers. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff. Has direct administrative supervision of the Quality, Education/Training and APP programs within the Department of Surgery. Serves as a consultant to other Medical Center staff and trainees. Serves on Medical Center and VISN committees or task forces as needed. Develops responses to controlled correspondence at the Medical Center, VISN, and VACO levels as directed. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs using data-driven quality assurance processes. Is responsible for timely completion of all program evaluations and documents required by the Medical Center, VISN, and VACO, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies (such as JC), as appropriate. Has programmatic oversight and shared responsibility. The incumbent has the supervisory responsibilities noted above. Decisions are made exercising latitude and independent judgment. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Surgery, but operates on a day-to-day basis in an independent manner, with full responsibility to keep the Chief of Surgery apprised of activities and any issues in need of close collaboration. Consults with and serves as a resource for other services concerning the need for the development of related services.

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 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: Successful completion of a post graduate residency program in Surgery or a related subspecialty approved by the Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education or its equivalent. At least 5 years of experience in the practice of General Surgery or a related subspecialty and be board certified by the American Board of Surgery or equivalent for a surgical subspecialty. 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: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Dennis Burns
• Email: [email protected]