Physician-Hospitalist (Section Chief)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP program

Paid time off 50-55 days/yr

Federal benefits (health/vision/dental

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration seeks a Section Chief Hospitalist at Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, KY. This role provides clinical oversight, operational leadership, and delivery of high-quality inpatient care in a patient-centered environment.

Responsibilities include directing the hospitalist team, setting policies, and coordinating with nursing, pharmacy, social work, and specialty services.

Qualifications

• Board-certified or board-eligible in Internal Medicine.
• MD or DO degree from an approved medical school.
• Current, full and unrestricted medical license in the U.S.
• Residency in an approved core specialty leading to board eligibility.
• English proficiency (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Provide direct inpatient hospitalist leadership and clinical oversight.
• Oversee daily operations of the inpatient Medicine Service line and bed management.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor and evaluate medical students, residents, and staff.
• Supervise staff performance and recruit/orient new personnel.
• Ensure compliance with VA/JCA standards and documentation requirements.

Skills

Board certified/eligible in IM

Teaching experience

Night/weekend availability

English proficiency

Education

MD or DO

Job description

Summary

The Section Chief Hospitalist at Robley Rex VA Medical Center provides dynamic leadership - clinical oversight - and operational management of the Hospitalist Program. The Chief Hospitalist ensures that high-quality - patient-centered - and efficient inpatient medical care is delivered in compliance with all applicable VA and regulatory 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:

• Board certified or Board Eligible in Internal Medicine
• 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: Teaching experience for at least 2 year
• should be available nights and weekends
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical evaluation are required for Title 38 occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical - mental and emotional capacities - without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Major Duties and Responsibilities: 1
• Clinical Leadership (30%) Provides direct inpatient care as attending physician on the hospitalist service - maintaining clinical proficiency
• Leads the hospitalist team including staff physicians - advanced practice providers - and residents
• Develops and implements clinical policies - procedures - and protocols to optimize patient care and clinical outcomes
• 2
• Administrative Oversight (30%) Oversees daily operations of the inpatient Medicine Service line - including bed management - patient flow - and coverage schedules
• Coordinates with other services (Nursing - Social Work - Pharmacy - Emergency Medicine - Specialty Providers - etc.) to ensure seamless - interdisciplinary patient care
• Leads or participates in relevant hospital committees and quality improvement initiatives
• 3
• Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (15%) Monitors clinical performance and patient outcomes
• identifies opportunities for improvement
• Implements evidence-based practices and meets or exceeds applicable quality benchmarks
• Oversees reporting of performance metrics - adverse events - and utilization data
• 4
• Education and Training (10%) Provides mentoring - training - and evaluation for medical students - residents - fellows - and advanced practice providers
• Organizes educational sessions - case conferences - and journal clubs for the hospitalist group
• 5
• Supervision and Human Resource Management (10%) Supervises and evaluates staff performance
• conducts annual performance reviews
• Recruits - retains - and orients new staff
• fosters an inclusive and collaborative team environment
• 6
• Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (5%) Ensures compliance with all federal - VA and Joint Commission standards
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record (CPRS)
• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chief of Medicine or Medical Center leadership
• Supervision Received: Reports directly to the Chief of Medicine Service
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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
• 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: 0700-1530 - or 0730-1600 or 0800-1630