This position is assigned to the Chief of Staff and is the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health Services. Incumbent is responsible for the oversight, management, and coordination of mental health services for our Veteran patient population. The focus is on providing comprehensive mental healthcare, improving access to care, ensuring quality of care, and promoting positive mental health outcomes.

Duties

This position is assigned to the Chief of Staff and is the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health Services. Incumbent is responsible for the oversight, management, and coordination of mental health services for our Veteran patient population. The focus is on providing comprehensive mental healthcare, improving access to care, ensuring quality of care, and promoting positive mental health outcomes. The incumbent will serve as an integral part of the VA's efforts to provide integrated mental healthcare to Veterans. The incumbent will manage the activities and planning associated with the following: -Oversees, plans, organizes, and directs the development of mental health programs and services. -Establishes and follows a capabilities model to achieve goals for eligibility, referral and authorization, care coordination, and utilization management to ensure improved Veteran experience. -Makes recommendations for the development of mental health programs based on data analysis and industry trends. -Provides program oversight over the field assistance program by assessing core functions and identifying opportunities for improvement. -Provides medical oversight, expertise, and leadership to the delivery of affordable quality mental healthcare services. -Responsible for daily operations and management by interfacing with other operational departments, internal and external customers, policies, and procedures. -Participates in senior management business and clinical strategy development and implementation. -Oversees a program that carries out the functions of performance and quality standards, while improving the Veteran's experience and outcomes. -Defines mental health policies, utilization management process and procedures, financial and utilization reports made available to the appropriate stakeholders. - Assumes responsibility for the overall quality of mental health services and for planning, developing, organizing, integrating, and directing programs, staff, and budget in support of organizational goals and commitments. - Establishes care coordination guidelines to assure appropriate utilization of services, level of care, and documentation, assuring fiscal integrity. - Provides oversight and direction over a variety of complex clinical and administrative programs from initiation and monitoring to implementation and maintenance. - Responsible for a multi-disciplinary care team to provide consistent, cost-effective, quality mental healthcare. - Identifies, manages, and mitigates risks of mental healthcare coordination efforts. - Develops and implements process redesign and programmatic improvements. - Serves on internal and external quality, provider, and quality management committees. - Implements utilization management strategies and creates processes/business controls for approval and denial of mental healthcare authorizations. - Ensure Veterans have access to mental healthcare that is accessible, convenient, and delivered in a timely manner and are informed about care delivery options, including face-to-face care, as well as all available telehealth Preferred Experience: This position requires a deep understanding of mental health services, including clinical care, program development, and policy implementation. The ideal candidate should have experience in leading and managing a team of mental health professionals, as well as collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care. Additionally, a strong background in developing and implementing evidence-based practices, quality improvement initiatives, and research programs is desired. Excellent communication and leadership skills are essential for this role, as the Associate Chief of Staff of Mental Health will be responsible for fostering a culture of excellence, promoting innovation, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality mental health services to veterans within the VA ECHCS. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc) Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation Incentive Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Education. The candidate must meet the following:(1) Graduate of a PA training program, or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations; and(2) A Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Certification (1) Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required for employment in VHA.(2) Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by VA on a temporary basis (38 U.S.C. 7405), for a period not to exceed two years, as provided in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section G, Paragraph 5.(3) If a PA's NCCPA certification is suspended, revoked or expires, the PA must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. PAs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Grade Determinations: Full Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph 2, individuals appointed to this grade must meet all the following requirements: (1) Experience / Education. None beyond the basic requirements in paragraph 2 of this standard. (2) Clinical Competencies Intermediate Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements under paragraph 2 above, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Full Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Intermediate Grade will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems and meet the following requirements: (1) Experience / Education (a) 1 year of professional practice as a PA; or(b) Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or(c) A Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (2) Clinical Competencies Senior Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements under paragraph 2 above, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Intermediate Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Senior Grade will have demonstrated the behaviors or responsibilities listed in one or more of the following categories: Clinical Proficiency, Education, Professional Development, Management/Administrative, and Research, as applicable to the assignment (1) Experience / Education (a) 3 years of professional practice as a PA; or (b) 2 years of professional practice as a PA and successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or (c) 2 years of professional practice as a PA and a Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or (d) A Doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. (2) Management/Administrative. One of the following responsibilities must be demonstrated: (a) Evaluates service level patient care delivery systems and validates or identifies barriers to safe, effective care. Presents findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials and participates in implementation of changes. (b) Manages patient quality management data bases such as the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) if assigned. (c) Serves on service or facility committees/task forces if applicable to the assignment. (d) Coordinates consult referrals within the service assigned. (e) Coordinates and facilitates inter-service agreements. (3) Clinical Competencies Chief Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements under paragraph 2 above, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Senior Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Appointment or promotion to Chief Grade is based on the individual's demonstrated high level of clinical expertise, leadership ability, and the ability to function with a high degree of autonomy. Further, the PA candidate for Chief Grade will have demonstrated all the requirements of one or more of the following categories: Management/Administrative, Clinical Proficiency, Professional Development and Research. (1) Experience / Education (a) Generally, an individual in this grade is able to demonstrate the behaviors listed in the areas below after 5 years of professional practice as a PA; and, (b) The minimum education for this grade is a Master's Degree from a PA training program accredited by ARC-PA or in a health-related field of study. However, experience as a PA may be substituted for the Master's degree where the individual has an equivalent knowledge of the profession and has successfully undertaken a combination of difficult or complex assignments in several clinical, administrative, research and educational arenas which required a high degree of competence. (2) Management/Administrative (a) Accepts substantial and continuing responsibility for managing or coordinating a healthcare program including follow-up actions to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies required by internal and external review organizations and accrediting bodies, and; (b) Successfully integrates the activities of the employee's assignment with other patient care programs at the facility or with similar programs on a broader geographic basis, and; (c) Develops policies and procedures and participates in executive level decision making deliberations, and; (d) Participates in long range program planning and model development for effective delivery of services, and;(e) Performs a full range of administrative duties relative to the assignment. (3) Clinical Competencies References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G8 Physical Requirements: The PA must be able to physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthetic or mechanical aid.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Rodney Riggleman
• Phone: (210) 980-9493
• Email: [email protected]