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Ophthalmology- Section Chief

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Salem, Virginia
Closing date
Jul 30, 2021
Duties

Summary

The Ophthalmology/Optometry (Eye) Section Chief, as a staff ophthalmologist, is responsible for the care of patients with disorders of the visual system in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. As Section Chief, the Eye Section Chief is also responsible for the administrative duties related to the successful operation of the Ophthalmology and Optometry service lines.

This position is considered a leadership position

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Duties included but not limited to:

The Eye Section Chief also functions as a coordinator between the other attending physicians and other team members and will establish and maintain relations and, when indicated, service agreements with other key services to include (but not limited to): Surgery and Medicine Services, Primary Care, Prosthetics, Nursing, Social Work, and Radiology. The Eye Section Chief is also responsible for coordinating the rotating University of Virginia Residents and relevant staff, to fulfill the needs of the Eye Service and their patients within the guidelines established by the ACGME. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:
The Eye Section manages a broad range of disease states in patients with both non-operative as well as surgical treatment options. These patients often have severe concomitant medical problems, mental health and chronic pain issues and are multi-symptomatic. This intense interaction requires that the ophthalmologist and optometrist make and implement sound and reasonable decisions and demonstrate above average personal and team performance/cooperation. Relentless attention to detail and unmitigated integrity is required.
The ophthalmologists and optometrists in the Section develop and coordinate patient care programs based upon the patient complaint(s) and pathology and performs, as a minimum, the following duties:
  • Demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat disorders of visual system.
  • Inpatient and Outpatient Clinic consultation and follow-up, admission History and Physicals, preoperative evaluations, surgery posting notes, orders, operative notes and reports, progress notes, and discharge planning and summaries.
  • Assume primary responsibility for admissions and patients under their care. These activities may be supervised and coordinated with residents/midlevels/students if they are present on service.
  • Develop and provide medical education/counseling of patients and their families with a focus on delivery of evidence based, outcomes focused, veteran centric care. This includes addressing goals of care and code status, as indicated.
  • Promote contemporary patient care programs for eye clinic and surgery patients and periodically review and update them based upon current and/or new, broadly accepted concepts.
  • In addition to the above, the Eye Section Chief must:
  • Lead the integration of the activities of the Eye Section with other patient care programs at the facility.
  • Participate in long range planning and model development for effective delivery of Eye care.
  • Ensure consult triage and clinic access meets standards established by the Group Practice Manager, National Surgery Office, and VHA.
  • Maintain accountability for performance, behavior and training of all members in the Section, including on-time completion of annual performance evaluations.
  • Supervisory Controls:
    The Eye Section Chief is under the direct supervision of the Chief of Surgery and the performance appraisal is conducted by the Chief of Surgery.
    Expectations are established and performance is reviewed and summarized along annual executive career field (ECF) performance appraisal guidelines developed by the Chief of Surgery and outlined at the beginning of and again in the middle of each fiscal year.

    Customer Services:
    The Ophthalmologist Section Chief meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The Ophthalmologist Section Chief provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflicts and problems dealing with all customers, internal and external, constructively and appropriately.

    Age, Development, & Cultural Needs of Patients:
    1. Provides services appropriate to the age of the patients being serves, and which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional and chronological maturation of the patient.
    2. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide care needed described in the services' policies and procedures.
    3. Takes in consideration age-related differences of the various veteran populations within this institution.
    4. Demonstrate knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possesses the ability to provide support based upon age-related factors.

    VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards .

    Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00AM- 4:30PM; however, subject to change, depending on the needs of the service/medical center.
    Relocation incentive: Not authorized
    Recruitment incentive: Not authorized
    Permanent Change of Station-(PCS): Not authorized
    Education Debt Reduction Program-(EDRP): Not Authorized
    Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

    Travel Required

    Not required

    Supervisory status
    Yes

    Promotion Potential
    None

    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.
    • Designated and/or random drug testing required
    • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
    • You may be required to serve a probationary period
    • Subject to a background/security investigation
    • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
    • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
    • Must pass pre-employment physical examination
    • The physician must possess and maintain current BLS and ACLS certifications


    Qualifications

    Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
    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.

    Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Ophthalmology; Preferred Glaucoma Specialist but not required

    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 physician should be physically and mentally capable to perform the duties of the position including examinations, formulate the diagnosis and treatment plan and educate residents. Physical activities include sitting, standing (up to 4 hours) walking (up to 2 hours), heavy lifting (45 pounds or over), reaching above the shoulder, and repeated bending. The incumbent should be emotionally and mentally stable; and capable to perform the duties of the position.

    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

    • 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
    • If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .


    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

    Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

    NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

    Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Not Required

    Drug test required
    Yes

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process
    Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

    Required Documents

    To apply for this position, you must submit a C.V. and/or resume. Other documents may be requested later in the process if needed.

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