The Deputy Chief of Staff is the primary backup to the Chief of Staff and provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic leadership to help ensure achievement of the Health Care System's clinical, research, and educational goals. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a key clinical resource for the Health Care System Director and the Chief of Staff. The Deputy Chief of Staff has all authorities as does the Chief of Staff and can act in the absence of the Chief of Staff.

Duties

The Deputy Chief of Staff's responsibilities include serving as the lead physician in many of the Health Care system's initiatives, which may include and are not limited to High Reliability Organization, Whole Health, Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning and other Quality Improvement initiatives. The incumbent works with all clinical services and performance measure champions to ensure optimal Veteran health and wellbeing outcomes and to improve processes to meet the performance measure goals and improve utilization management. The Deputy supervises a variety of staff, who are aligned under the Chief of Staff Office and serves on a broad spectrum of health care system committees, task forces, etc. Responsibilities include hands-on clinical work, oversight, and administration of all aspects of patient care, including an extensive research program and guidance and training for residents and other trainees. Additionally, the incumbent is a member of the Health Care System Leadership Team; directly accountable to the Chief of Staff for clinical program activities and overall compliance to VA, VHA, and VISN wide policies and procedures. Clinical Work- Provides direct patient care in the field in which they have been credentialed and privileged at the Durham VA Health Care System. Customer Service- Plans the provision of services with a patient-centered vision (in alignment with VHA guidelines and policies) to enhance patient education and shared decision-making. Embodies the principals of Servant Leadership - actively listening to staff and Veterans, removing barriers wherever possible and within VA guidelines, policies, and the law, understanding and building on strengths of services and establishes a customer-oriented culture and promotes hiring of persons who demonstrate the ICARE values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence. Quality Improvement- Develops a high-reliability organization through direction of the continuous measurement and improvement of the quality of care provided across the health system. Ensures the clinical services' ability to meet standards issued by accrediting and regulatory groups and VA Central Office. Research and Education- Encourages and supports research and education missions. Works closely with the Associate Chief of Staff for Education and the Associate Chief of Staff for Research. Creates a climate where continuous learning and professional development are valued. Budget and Fiscal Management- Collaborates with other Health Care System 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. Organizational Stewardship- Demonstrates commitment to the Health Care System's goals. Manages relationships with academic affiliates and supporting services to maximize efficiency and drive highly reliable operations. Actively participates on committees, task forces, and other groups at the Health Care System and affiliates to assist in policy changes. Collaborates with executive, managerial, and clinical leadership in formulating local Health Care System policy, resource planning for staffing, equipment and space. Human Resources Management- Responsible for assuring appropriate action in such matters as promotions, selections, rewards and recognition, training, and problem resolution. Provides opportunities for continuing education, peer review, career development and professional enrichment for subordinate employees. Responds to changing priorities and resources with optimism, encouraging staff to respond positively and proactively. Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. EDRP: Enrollment in the VHA's Education Debt Reduction Program may be considered for candidates depending on their specific area of clinical practice. 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: Federal pension (5 years vesting) and 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 7:30AM-4:00PM

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. 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: This work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interact with the patients and other services. The incumbent must be physically capable of practicing medicine within their specialty.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: KARI LEPINE
• Phone: 906-396-9895
• Email: [email protected]