VA Bedford Healthcare System is looking for a Chief of Pain Services The Chief of Pain Services directs and oversees the clinical functions of the various SAC Pain Sections clinical services. This includes the oversight of clinical and administrative care services within the Specialty and Acute Care (SAC) Service Line at the VA Bedford HCS. The Chief of Pain Services will be responsible for the supervision of the clinical staff who report under the Pain Section.

Duties

The Chief of Pain Services is charged with overseeing the delivery of clinical care, in close partnership with and reports to the Service Line Manager of the Specialty and Acute Care Clinics. Metrics include: quality, patient satisfaction, employee satisfaction and most importantly, efficiency. As a leader, the Chief of Pain Services will act and lead as a change agent and liaison. Mentorship and motivation of the Pain Clinics staff will be critical to the success of the Chief of Pain Services. The Chief of Pain Services will work collaboratively to develop a culture that is transparent and non-punitive but also fosters strong accountability and personal commitment to the VA Bedford HCS. Functions of the Chief of Pain Services include but are not limited to: Conduct peer reviews as part of the physician practice evaluation program (OPPE/FPPE), as well as for quality improvement and resource utilization purposes on an ongoing basis. Oversees the establishment of program monitors, outcomes measurements, and performance measures within Pain Clinic Services. Ensures physicians do timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation, as appropriate. Works within a cooperative structure in conjunction with the SAC Service Line Manager, Nurse Manager, Administrative Officer, and other SAC supervisors as well as other service lines within the facility (Primary Care, Mental Health, Geriatric, inpatient and long term care units, Police, Business Office, Logistics, etc.). Supports the advancement of new knowledge in the provision of urgent care services. Strives to meet the needs of internal and external customers while supporting VA missions. The incumbent has skills in internal personal relationships to effectively resolve conflicts and work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment. The incumbent communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Acts as a primary provider for chronic pain management, coordinating care for complex patients with chronic pain in their own designated clinic; these patients have multiple co-morbidities including mental health diagnoses, polypharmacy, pain that is difficult to manage, on multi-modal therapy and have failed Step 1 of Stepped Care Model of Pain. Medical management of patients with chronic pain referred to Pain Service as the first line provider for pain management consults. Familiar with chronic pain, Opioid Use Disorder and dual diagnosis, prescribing of buprenorphine for dual diagnosis. Coordinator of pain management for patients referred to interdisciplinary pain team Coordinates transition of opioids to suboxone when indicated. Serves as leader of the interdisciplinary team for patients seen with dual diagnosis to coordinate care, provide close monitoring of patient compliance, triage any concerns and provide comprehensive care to this high risk population of patients. Oversees Pain Fellows and Family Medicine residents rotating through Pain Service, working collaboratively with Pain Service staff and assists in developing curriculum with Education Service and ensures Fellows and Residents have robust training experience during rotation. Oversees Acupuncture student program; ensures providers are up to date on Credentialing and Privileging. Develop performance expectations for physicians and complete annual proficiencies including pay for performance. Understands Congressional laws mandated that Pain Service must implement and have in place, for example, the CARA Act. Works collaboratively with PMOP triad to ensure all opioid safety measures are being monitored as mandated by VISN and National offices. The Chief of Pain Services reports administratively to the Service Line Manager, Specialty and Acute Care Service Line with proficiency completed by the Chief of Staff. 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: Full-Time, Monday - Friday (8:00a - 4:30p)

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. Additional Requirements: Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Board Certification. Participation in addiction medicine training funded by the facility is a requirement for this position if not previously trained in addiction medicine. Preferred Experience: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine Physician with chronic pain knowledge/experience. Addiction Medicine knowledge and/or training. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: No manual labor is required above ordinary situations. Incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic.

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 Bedford Healthcare System 200 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 US
• Name: Reesha Speller
• Email: [email protected]