Physician - Section Chief (Hospice and Palliative Care)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 230,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVHCS) Medicine Service is seeking a Physician (Hospice and Palliative Care) Section Chief with an academic appointment as Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator track) at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. The role includes potential for additional appointment in Internal Medicine based on qualifications.

Responsibilities include inpatient/outpatient palliative care coverage, program leadership, teaching, and collaboration with VA and

Qualifications

• US citizenship as required for VA employment
• MD degree or equivalent in allopathic or osteopathic medicine
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US or DC
• Residency training in an approved core specialty leading to board eligibility
• Board certification/eligibility in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Geriatric Medicine
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Responsibilities

• Provide inpatient and outpatient palliative care attending coverage, including routine rounds on CLC Hospice residents
• Serve as consultant to providers within the GEC and broader medical center
• Coordinate hospice care inside and outside the VA system
• Provide administrative leadership for the HPC Section with clinical oversight
• Supervise physicians, APPs, and staff, including time/leave approvals and performance reviews
• Educate and mentor HPC fellows, residents, students and other trainees

Skills

English proficiency

Education

MD degree or equivalent

Board certification eligibility/certification in Hospice & Palliative Medicine or Geriatric Medicine

Job description

Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVHCS) Medicine Service is recruiting for a Physician (Hospice and Palliative Care) Section Chief. The position carries a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator track) in the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine - with potential for additional appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine based on qualifications and experience.

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. Qualified candidates must meet eligibility requirements for a faculty appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico based upon qualifications and experience.

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
• Certification: Board Eligibility or Board Certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Geriatric Medicine Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires: light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.)
• light carrying (15 lbs
• and under)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 2 hours)
• standing (up to 2 hours)
• kneeling (up to 1 hour)
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• depth perception
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• ability to distinguish shades of colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• emotional stability
• mental stability
• working closely with others
• and working alone.

Duties

• 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 Duties: Provide inpatient and outpatient palliative care attending coverage - including routine rounds on CLC Hospice residents
• Serve as consultant to providers throughout GEC and the broader medical center
• request consultation from within or outside the facility as needed
• Arrange and coordinate hospice care both within and outside the VA system
• Administrative Leadership Provide overall clinical and administrative oversight of the HPC Section - ensuring adequacy - appropriateness - and quality of care delivered
• Supervise physicians - advanced practice providers - and clinical support staff within the section - including: time and leave approval
• certification of time and attendance
• performance reviews
• performance pay determinations
• and disciplinary actions as needed
• Collaborate with the HPC Program Coordinator to develop program-specific performance measures and report cards - complete action plans - and liaise with VISN and national HPC leadership
• Quality & Performance Improvement Monitor and evaluate the quality of HPC medical services as part of the overall quality assessment and improvement program
• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission (JC) and Long-Term Care Institute (LTCI) standards as they apply to HPC programs
• Support ongoing survey readiness in the CLC Hospice - including VA internal surveys and Periodic Performance Reviews
• Education & Academic Collaboration Participate in formal and informal educational didactics for HPC fellows - residents - students - and other trainees
• Provide medical supervision for residents and fellows through academic affiliate partnerships
• Mentor and orient new employees joining the Palliative Care Section
• Policy & Compliance Maintain familiarity with VHA directives and local policies affecting HPC and GEC programs
• Assist in establishing and maintaining policies - procedures - and guidelines to ensure comprehensive and timely HPC services across the NM VA
• Serve as a resource to senior management and clinical/administrative leaders on issues affecting veterans who use GEC services
• Work Schedule: Full Time