The South Texas VA Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas is currently seeking a full-time Physician (Nephrology-Section Chief). The Nephrology Section Chief will provide comprehensive patient care of consultative inpatient and outpatient Nephrology patient care and management that supports the mission through administrative leadership and oversight of their Section's educational and research activities. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. 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: 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 and 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 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR 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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Nephrology. Minimum of five years in practice. One year of leadership experience. Minimum of two years of academic experience. Research experience. Faculty development training. 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight Pulling (2hrs); Pushing (4hrs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (2hrs); Standing (2hrs); Kneeling (2hrs); Repeated bending (2hrs); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes required; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Hearing (aid permitted). Mental/emotional stability. ["The Nephrology Section Chief will be responsible for the following duties below but not limited to the following: Administrative Duties: Leadership responsibilities: organizing staff meetings, communication both down to staff and up to leadership, to include heads up (for acute patient bad outcomes) and issue briefs, acting as Service Chief when the Service Chief and Deputy Service Chief are both on leave. HR Management: hiring requirements including recruitments with University, updates on Functional Statements & Position Descriptions, co-management of 6 part folder, pay panel preparation. Staff Management: routine ratings of all staff, including yearly proficiency reports on all faculty and yearly title 38 mid-year review, OPPEs (2x a year), FPPEs as requested by PSB, promotions, disciplinary actions & grievances, training requirements (and LMS capability), employee health requirements, Peer Reviews (purple folders). Time/Leave Management: Tour of Duties, VATAS approvals of leave, time card certification, approvals of clinic cancellations. Business Planning: work with Med Svc office on DSS mapping, FTE needs, capacity analysis, workloads, resource needs (equipment, IT, supplies, space, etc). Clinical Management including indirect patient care: open encounter & open consult management, CPRS documentation requirements, oversight of clinic scheduling & access, ensuring staff productivity, oversight of relevant performance measures, and development of the new focus on the Medical Home and Patient Centric Care, Utilization, Quality, and Patient Safety oversight, process improvement (system redesign) Section chiefs are responsible for ensuring staff are completing notes/encounters routinely within 2 business days (and must be done NLT 7 days) and closing each month fiscally before the 6th day of the following month. Section chiefs will ensure that staff are giving advanced notice (45 days in advance for routine AL) and that there is always enough staff not on leave to maintain inpatient and outpatient clinical operations. Supervisors are to ensure staff are using the leaf process properly to cancel clinic appointments, after approved by the Section Chief. Clinical Duties: The Nephrology Section Chief is expected to remain privileged and practicing in their specialty field. Patient Care: Practitioners are expected to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life. Medical/Clinical Knowledge: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social sciences, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. Clinical Judgment: To ensure practice-based learning and improvement, practitioners are expected to be able to use scientific evidence and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care. Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of the health care team. Professionalism: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession. Systems-Based Practice: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care. Practitioners are expected to provide inpatient and consult service during off tours (nights, weekends, and holidays) as needed by the organization. Education: The Section Chief functions as a liaison to ACOS for Education and respective Program Director for UME/GME issues. He/she ensures orientation to service rotation for program trainees (residents, students), Practitioners are expected to show effectiveness in teaching, monitor and coordinate educational activities, and comply with necessary trainee supervision. Supervision of residents is a major duty of this position. Research and Development (if applicable): The Section Chief functions as a liaison to ACOS for Research for research issues concerning their section. Physician researchers will show an ability to identify and define significant Research and Development problems, to plan and execute a precise research program, and to generate effective reports and results worthy of publication. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Incumbent will be required to be on-call for inpatient/outpatient work based on facility/patient care needs. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized"]

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