VA Central Western Massachusetts (CWM) is looking for a Chief of Staff (COS) with leadership experience and the ability to lead the Medical Staff of a Medical Center and seven outlying VA Health Clinics. The COS serves as a full member of the CWM VA Health Care System's Executive Team. The COS represents the organization, internally and externally, in such a manner as to reflect positively on the facility and the Veterans Administration (VA). 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. Must be Board Certified. 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 Requirement: Board Certification Preferred Experience: The candidate must demonstrate extensive experience or potential to be an Executive Leader, directing team members per VACWM's mission and strategic priorities. Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties in an outpatient setting under normal and emergent conditions. light lifting under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder; both hands required, walking or standing up to 2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near/far vision correctable; hearing aid permitted. This is a clinical outpatient care or office environment. There are no special demands for the office environment. The clinical work environment will require occasional personal protective equipment, cleaning, sterile procedure and other precautions specified. Works both alone, and closely with others. 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for well qualified candidates. Relocation Incentive: Authorized for well qualified candidates. Telework: Ad-Hoc 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Required Duties to include but not limited to the following. The Chief of Staff (COS) serves as a full member of the Central Western Massachusetts VA Health Care System's Executive Team. The COS is both clinically and fiscally responsible for the delivery of timely, ethical, compassionate, efficient, quality, and safe care to Veteran patients. The COS promotes the development of healthcare professionals through counseling, mentoring, teaching, and encouraging self-assessment. The COS monitors and promotes compliance with VA regulations and professional standards pertaining to outside professional activities and ethical conduct. The COS promotes an effective mix, coordination and support of clinical workload and resources, special program mandates and cost/benefit analysis, making recommendation to the facility Director and ensuring implementation of approved clinical proposals. The COS is responsible for the overall direction and the priorities of the teaching programs associated with the Medical Center. The COS monitors and ensures medical staff compliance with agency regulations, medical staff bylaws, federal and state rules and regulations, VA facility policies, OIG, Joint Commission standards and other appropriate regulations. The COS is responsible for leading and guiding the clinical staff in support of the VHA's core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence in the provision of these duties. The incumbent serves as a professional liaison of the facility to other VA and federal facilities, the community, affiliates, media, congressional offices, local and regional health care practices, and constituent organizations in partnership with relevant VA leadership. The COS maintains and promotes high ethical and clinical standards that are carried into decision-making processes, promoting constructive problem resolution in an environment of competing priorities. The incumbent works with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure the facility programs reflect the mission and priorities of the VHA and VA. The COS works as an executive leadership member to ensure that facility programs reflect the mission and priorities of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Network Office (VISN) 1. The incumbent provides leadership to staff through policy guidance and activities on behalf of patients and their clinical care. The incumbent promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which are maintained through compliance with credentialing and privileging processes, monitoring and evaluation of clinical practice, peer review, consideration of clinical performance patterns in clinical privileging and other appropriate quality improvement activities. The COS facilitates assessment of educational and developmental needs of clinical staff to develop and implement plans for meeting identified needs; and to prioritize the use of available training funds. The incumbent accomplishes clinical program goals consistent with available resources and participates in the allocation of facility resources and modification of programs to best meet the needs of the Veteran population. The COS provides strong leadership, managerial, organizational, and clinical skills to improve patient flow and achieve measurable outcomes. This includes patient appointment availability; improving Ambulatory Care Service efficiency; expanding outpatient care; and implementing evidence-based practices in all clinical services. The COS reports to the Director of the Central Western Massachusetts VA Health Care System. The COS creates an environment of system-oriented, continuous performance improvement as evidenced by meeting or exceeding performance expectations and national benchmarks. The COS reports to the Director of the Central Western Massachusetts VA Health Care System. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday (8:00a - 4:30p)"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.