The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) of Mental Health is responsible for defining the mission and vision of the mental health program, developing the scope of practice for employees assigned, designing a plan of care, and assuring the implementation of quality improvement measures. The incumbent is responsible for developing, planning, clarifying, administering, and managing the Mental Health Integrated Care Community (ICC) at the VA Black Hills Health Care System (VA BHHCS).

Duties

The incumbent designates service priorities and objectives supervises programs (Inpatient, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs, Outpatient and Mental Health in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and supervises and evaluates the performance of staff assigned to those programs. The ACOS makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance. The incumbent is responsible for advising management of specific clinical or administrative issues within the Mental Health ICC and the Medical Center. The position is a consultant and advisor to subordinates, peers, and administration. - Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional theories, assessment methods, and techniques to various patient populations. - Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies. - Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. - Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional and behavioral health. - Ability to effectively supervise and manage a large group of professional staff. - Ability to correctly assess the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees. - Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards across program areas and professional disciplines. - Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and working collaboratively with supervisors from other service lines and departments. - Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. - Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and the ability to communicate them to subordinates. Administrative Responsibilities - Approximately 75% - Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff. - Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees. - Serves on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. - Represents Mental Health ICC on decision-making committees at the medical center. - Represent the medical center at professional/program community groups/events and committees. - Responsible for coordination of a mental health response in the event of critical occurrences of violence at the facility, disasters, and/or mass casualty occurrences. - Develop responses to controlled correspondence at the Medical Center, VISN, and VACO levels, inclusive of responding to elected representatives and the OIG Hotline concerning patient care and other matters of public interest. - 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 JCAHO) and monitoring entities (such as NEPEC) as appropriate. - Has programmatic oversight and shared responsibility. - Has line and staff authority for resource allocations within Mental Health ICC to ensure efficient operations, prepare annual Budget Calls, and monitor/oversee fund Control Points. - Consults with and serves as a resource for other ICCs and facility leadership concerning the need for the development of mental health services. Clinical Responsibilities - Approximately 25% - Diagnoses mental disorders. - Treats mental health disorders through a variety of modalities and provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. - Provides a full range of psychiatric services including assessment and using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care. - Performs evaluations for Veterans with a variety of mental health disorders. - Provides supervision of trainees conducting direct clinical care. - Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center as appropriate and may present outcome data as appropriate. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 7:30 to 4:00

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: Leadership/Mental Health 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 position is predominately an administrative/supervisory position. However, as this position requires a licensed professional, the physical demands remain equivalent to the clinical requirements for the position. The clinical component of this position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires a potentially moderate level of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent 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.

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 VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Todd Otterberg
• Phone: 605-347-2511 X7380
• Email: [email protected]