Physician - Geriatrics & Extended Care Section Chief

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fredericksburg (VA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 26 days

Federal pension

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Fredericksburg Veterans Affairs Health Care Center seeks a qualified physician to lead Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC). The incumbent will manage clinical duties across PACT, HBPC, and telehealth modalities, while guiding interdisciplinary teams and participating in clinical education and quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, coordinating care with partners, and ensuring timely documentation in EMR systems; travel to affiliated clinics may be required,

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required; non-citizens limited by VA policy.
• MD degree from an approved school.
• Current full and unrestricted medical license in US or DC.
• Residency in an accredited core specialty with eligibility for board certification.
• Board certification/eligibility as per VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day clinical care in GEC/PACT and related clinics.
• Supervise clinical staff including NPs and PAs.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team and program leadership.
• Participate in education, training, and quality improvement activities.
• Travel to other clinics as needed; work schedule Monday to Friday.

Skills

US Citizenship

MD degree

Unrestricted license

Residency in core specialty

Board eligibility/certification

English proficiency

Geriatrics experience

Physician supervision experience

Education

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Experience in GEC program management and quality improvement
• Geriatrics or HPM fellowship completion
• 2 years experience in Geriatrics Primary Care/Home-Based Primary Care
• Physician supervisor experience
• Physicians must have successfully completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs - in an accredited core specialty training program as outlined in the title 38 qualification standard for the Physician - 0602 - occupation
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting - prolonged standing - sitting - frequent bending - stooping - walking - reaching - repetitive motion - and climbing stairs
• The mental/sensory requirements include logical thinking - processing - and retaining information - reading - recall - reasoning - complex problem solving - hearing - clear distinct speech - writing - keyboarding - use of a telephone - and use of video connectivity
• This position requires face-to-face patient care - use of available IT software and equipment for virtual visits - and timely and accurate navigation of and documentation in electronic medical records
• The environment's pace can vary from steady to fast-paced requiring handling multiple priorities in a single day - frequent - sometimes intense customer interactions - and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment
• There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease - illness - and hazardous materials
• This position involved working with patients who have communication difficulties - cognitive loss including dementia - behavioral challenges - altered mentation and caregivers that are stressed
• When assigned to HBPC - this position requires holding a valid driver's license to operate a government vehicle - completing home visits independently and driving up to to 2-hours one-way using a government vehicle.

Duties

• The Fredericksburg Veterans Affairs Health Care Center (FxHCC) Section Chief of Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) provides administrative - clinical - and programmatic leadership for the geriatric and extended care programs at FxHCC to ensure achievement of the clinical - research - and education goals
• The incumbent reports directly to Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) Associate Chief of Staff - GEC and will be expected to work closely in conjunction with the GEC & FxHCC leadership to ensure collaboration and alignment to reach collective goals of Central Virginia VA Health Care System
• The Fredericksburg Veterans Affairs Health Care Center offers a comprehensive range of outpatient services for Veterans in the Northern Virginia and Central Virginia area - including Primary Care - Rehabilitation - Dental - Medical and Surgical specialty care - and Mental Health services
• The establishment of this new health care center is part of the Central Virginia VA Health Care System and the Veterans Health Administration's initiative to enhance access to care for Veterans - thereby providing them with more healthcare options within their communities and fulfilling the mission to deliver exemplary care to our Nation's Heroes
• 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 The duties and responsibilities of the Geriatrics & Extended Care Section Chief include - but are not limited to the following: Performs day-to-day clinical activities - which may include providing patient care in Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) clinics - Geriatrics consultation and management in outpatient clinics - Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) - all telehealth modalities - e-consults - Hospice & Palliative Care services - Non-Institutional Care programs - and transitional care team
• Collaborate daily with the interdisciplinary team (IDT) - referral sources and all stakeholders
• Participates in program development - quality improvement - and systems redesign projects
• Provides effective collaboration and leadership to interdisciplinary teams and administrative staff Completes home visits independently when assigned to Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC)
• Supervises clinical staff - including a nurse navigator - nurse practitioner and physician assistant - and administrative staff
• Provides collaborative physician coverage in GEC programs including non-institutional care programs and contract community nursing home programs
• Provides guidance and coaching as needed to other Physicians - Nurse Practitioners - Physician Assistants and other interdisciplinary staff in GEC and referral sources
• Completes medical records and encounters timely and accurately
• Communicate with patients - family members and treatment teams - including community partners and vendors
• Participates in educational activities for all trainees - i.e. - curriculum development - bedside teaching - formal didactics - and just-in-time teaching
• Periodic travel to other clinics and Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday
• 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM