This position is in the Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) service within Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) in Iron Mountain, MI. Incumbent must be board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Geriatrics through the American Board of Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. The Chief of GEC has full responsibility for administratively managing and supervising all aspects of GEC Service operations.

Duties

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Provides guidance and consultation to the nurse practitioners or physician assistants assigned in their respective areas of responsibility 2. Is a voting member of the Medical Executive Committee. Serves on Medical Center, VISN and/or National VA committees or task forces. 3. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs using data-driven quality assurance processes 4. Develops responses to controlled correspondence at the Medical Center, VIJSN, and VACO levels as directed 5. Has programmatic oversight and shared responsibility for the following: a) The incumbent has the supervisory responsibilities noted above, with additional responsibilities that include i. Managements of Human Resource aspects of Geriatric and Hospice & Palliative Car relations, performance appraisals, and professional boarding procedures for various disciplines ii. Primary responsibility for all aspects of administration both within the Geriatric and Hospice & Palliative Care service and in the relationship of the Geriatric and Hospice & Palliative Care service to the Medical Center at large. iii. Monitoring and reporting to facility and VISN leadership regarding status of RVAHCS Quality Measures, with implementation of needed action plans regarding QM assigned to Geriatric and Hospice & Palliative Care and cooperative efforts to ensure the success of QM assigned to other facility services. Provide oversight for any needed corrective actions. b) Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Chief of Staff but operates on a day-to-day basis in an independent manner, with full responsibility to keep the Deputy Chief of Staff apprised of activates and any issues in need of close collaboration. CLINICAL RESPONSIBLITIES: 1. Diagnose and treat medical and geriatric disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care. 2. Provide supervision, as appropriate, of trainees conducting direct clinical care. 3. Facilitate the delivery of appropriate patient care in collaboration with other health professionals, medical center staff, and management. 4. Participates in Peer Review process when requested. 5. Participates in multidisciplinary activities involving the treatment plan and discharge plans of patients. 6. Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and finding from research and studies. Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal. 7. Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients when clinical assignments so dictate. 8. Completes all medical record documentation in the electronic health record within outlined timeframes with accuracy. 9. Includes patient/family/significant other/health care provider in establishing realistic, measurable goals related to health education and treatment plan and in planning care on a continuum; assists staff in the process of mutual goal setting. 10. Demonstrates skill in implementation of clinical practice guidelines and protocols for patients with complex medical care needs. 11. Utilizes problem solving methodologies to resolve problems that impact on patient care or staff performance and makes decisions based on professional standards. 12. Prescribe pharmacotherapeutic and non-pharmacotherapeutic regimes according to clinical privileges. 13. Monitors and evaluates patients' responses to treatment plans. 14. Promote professional development through independent study and by attending education programs to increase knowledge base and maintain professional certification. 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 Incentive: Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized & PCS (Paid Move) Authorized

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: Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. Education: 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. Licensure & Registration: 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 a Geriatric Medicine Residency Training Program, 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); 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. NOTE: 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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Board Certification:Must be board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Geriatrics through the American Board of Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. Competencies:The primary age of patients treated and cared for are normally at the geriatric level, i.e. 65 years of age or older, although occasionally there may be younger patients between the ages of 18-65 years of age that require care. The position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the needs of these types of patients. Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients in respect to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved. The incumbent must be able to deliver age-specific/population specific care, as identified in the competency checklist, including knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups; ability to assess and interpret data about the patient's status, and ability to identify age-specific/population specific needs and provide the appropriate care based upon the age-related factors noted. 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: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, hands and legs, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking & standing up to 8 hours, bending and climbing and able to hear whisper. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Must be physically, emotionally and mentally competent and able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to yourself or others

Education

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

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.]

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Contacts

• Address Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Michael Cherette
• Phone: (906) 774-3300 X32288
• Email: [email protected]