Summary This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at [email protected] Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. This is an open continuous announcement until 03/25/2024. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 03/25/2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 01/09/2024. Followed by additional cutoff dates biweekly. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. The Chief of Surgery is a surgeon (MD or equivalent) with both clinical and administrative roles. As a leader In the department of surgery, the Chief of Surgery is responsible of the overall operation of the surgical department, whose mission is to provide a continuum of quality care to our veterans. He /she oversees the clinical of the surgical department, including budget and fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, and program development, assuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated to provide optimum utilization of the available resources. He/she ensure the quality and timeliness of the services provided, customer satisfaction, as well as compliance with standards of accrediting bodies such as the Joint Commission and the Inspector General's Combined Assessment Program. He/she ensures appropriate use of available resources and is responsible for inspiring, motivating, and guiding surgical service staff in achieving the strategic goals and plans of the service. He/she collaborates with other Service Chiefs and program managers, fulfilling his/her responsibilities. The Chief of Surgery will also function as a surgeon. He/she will be responsible for the overall medical and surgical care of patients with conditions requiring surgical treatment to include surgical opinion or intervention in both, the outpatient, and inpatient settings at the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC. He/she is to ensure the quality and timeliness of the services provided and collaborate with referring providers. The Surgeon/Chief of Surgery accomplishes is health care delivery mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs in general. Services provided are subject to scrutiny by Congressional interests, service organizations, the public and the media. The Surgeon/Chief of Surgery is to be a physician, board certified or board eligible in surgery, having completed an appropriate residency or fellowship. Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support is required. Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification is recommended. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Eligible for highly qualified applicants 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 Duties include but are not limited to: Assume the responsibility for the overall management of the surgical service. This includes the organization of the administrative day-to day activities of the surgical department. Provide leadership and accountability for all aspects of the service, assuring support of the mission and values of this medical center, VJSN 11, and the VA. Assume responsibility for carrying out the goals, objectives, and plans and policies established by the Medical Center Director. Assess, consult, and treat patients with general disorders requiring surgical opinion or intervention, in the outpatient and inpatient settings. The surgeon is responsible for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients in both settings, as appropriate for care of those patients. In some instances, the surgeon will assess, diagnose, and make recommendations to primary care or other specialty services regarding management and follow-up of the patient. lt is the responsibility of the primary care or specialty provider to review and implement the surgeon's recommendations based on the primary care or specialty provider's clinical judgment. Incumbent will also be responsible for teaching activities students and residents from different affiliations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Preference will be given to board certified physicians. . "Supervision of residents and/or medical students is an expectation of this position." Applicants must be board certified IM physicians Additional Requirement: Service Chief or Line Manager. A service chief or line manager physician must demonstrate the following: Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty Ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain. These programs would include, but are not limited to medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, and quality and performance improve 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: The position is primarily sedentary, with the ability to stand, walk, bend, and move freely. Work is accomplished predominantly in an administrative setting. Position requires periodic travel from the Medical Center and its nine Community Based Outreach Centers. Position also may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners, who provide assistance and support to the facility and its Veterans. This position requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and/or fingers. Work may involve regular and recurring exposure to infection and contagious diseases. Infection Control Standard Precautions are required as safety precautions, such as hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, or masks, which may be required for personal protective equipment and to promote a safe environment. 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: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or 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. 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. Additional Information VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Financial Disclosure Report: Required Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.