Physician - Chief, Imaging Service

Duties

Major duties may include but are not limited to:

Administration - The Chief of Imaging Service will work with the Business Manager to evaluate prospective new hires, on-board personnel, oversee compliance with all applicable regulations, and address patient complaints, credentialing and peer-review issues, and inquiries and investigations from Congress, the White House, VA Central Office, and national investigative bodies. The individual will participate as the representative member of Radiology Service and VAMCHS-wide committees responsible for peer review, accreditation, and systems redesign and quality improvement projects, as required. The incumbent will carry out administrative duties as assigned in a timely, resourceful, and efficient manner. He or she will demonstrate interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills that enable him/her to establish and maintain professional relationships with other professionals, whether they are supervisees, peers, or supervisors and leaders both at VAMHCS and at higher levels.

Patient Care - The Chief of Imaging will also be expected to provide direct patient care in his/her specialty area approximately 50% of the time. This responsibility will include:

• Evaluating and prioritizing radiology orders
• Ordering and evaluating appropriate laboratory studies
• Ordering hydration for CT exams
• Protocolling and approving complex imaging exams
• Timely and accurate reporting of a variety of complex imaging exams
• Notifying providers of critical imaging results
• Performing interventional procedures (if applicable to area of practice)

All patient data, (radiology reports, requests for laboratory studies, etc.) shall be entered into the patient's chart electronically. Documentation of care will be in accordance with the bylaws, policy, and regulations established by the VA and VAMHCS or the facility in which the care is provided. All VA reports will be completed on each patient examined to include appropriate CPT codes and diagnosis. Care will be compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and treatment of disease.

Teaching - The Chief will function part-time as a Radiology-Educator for medical and other health care trainees including students, resident physicians and fellows as part of his/her duties as a member of the department. He/she will present formal educational material from time to time in various venues such as Grand Rounds, etc. The incumbent will also teach, both didactically and by example, his/her supervisees appropriate professional behavior and correct procedures for maintaining records, evaluating and monitoring personnel, and other administrative functions.

Research - The Chief of Imaging will be expected to mentor junior faculty, fellows, and others on research projects that they wish to develop.

Supervision - The Chief will report directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff and duties will be as assigned as required. The position will require supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and VAMHCS policy and/or directives. Direct report supervisees will be Radiology Section Chiefs and radiologists and indirect supervisees will include other radiologists and potentially midlevel providers. Goals of supervision will include:

• Improving patient flow
• Improving Radiology Section efficiency by reducing exam cancellations, improving timeliness, reducing over-time, expanding hours of operation
• Achieving timely outpatient evaluations by monitoring modality utilization and scheduling of procedures and exams
• Improve quality of care by achieving excellence in delivery of care to patients
• Improve patient and employee satisfaction

See education block:

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

Work Schedule: Permanent, Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM
Telework: Ad hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Title/Functional Statement #: Physician (Chief, Imaging Service)/FS#00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).

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 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:

(1) Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
(2) Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
(3) 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.

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in 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.

Licensure and Registration. Physicians must possess a 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. The physician must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

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.

Note: 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.

Board Certification. Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA; however, three circumstances in VA require physician board certification:
(1) If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or physician residents (including fellows), the LCME, ACGME or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply.
(2) If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example, in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools), then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position.
(3) If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example, as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine), then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply.]

The Chief of the Imaging Service will be a fully trained and board-certified radiologist, preferably with additional fellowship training. He/she must be experienced and highly competent in clinical radiology, with a good understanding of how the various subspecialists function and the kinds of services they provide, as well as a talented and seasoned medical administrator, preferably with prior VA work experience. The incumbent will be expected to maintain a valid medical license in at least one state, and to maintain all certifications required for performance of clinical duties and maintenance of core privileges, including BLS certification.

Physical Requirements. The physician will dictate Imaging studies using the powerscribe and McKesson software. The physician will need to make occasional trips to the scan room in order to discuss patient care needs with the scanning technologist. There may be some standing, bending, and carrying of light items, such as carrying paperwork. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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).

Grandfathering. 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.

Service Chief or Line Manager. A service chief or line manager physician must demonstrate the following:
(a) Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty; and
(b) 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 improvement.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard.

Education

Continuation of Duties block above: The incumbent will participate in and lead the service with evaluation of Section Chiefs and other supervised practitioners by means of Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE), Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE), and reviews of patient care documentation. Mid-year and annual evaluations of Section Chiefs and radiologists are expected to be completed fairly and without prejudice and in a timely manner. While serving as a liaison between the ELT at the VAMHCS and radiologists assigned Subspecialty Section Chiefs (and their physicians and ancillary staff), the Chief will foster an environment of mutual respect and free communication and promote a culture of safety in which individuals will feel free to point out problems and deficiencies without fear of retaliation. The incumbent will work to impart an expectation of individual sacrifice for the good of the Veterans served by the Imaging Service itself. The Chief will share responsibility with the Service Chief for the recruitment, hiring and training of new staff and monitoring the initial and ongoing credentialing of staff physicians.

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

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:Not 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .