Duties

The Assistant Chief role includes the monitoring, review and assignment of healthcare providers' workload, clinical effectiveness and efficiency, coordination of work schedules and the responsibility for clinical performance measures for the VA Clinics. The incumbent works closely with other leaders within the primary care service and the organization to ensure optimization of resources. Additionally, the incumbent participates in Medical Center administrative and clinical operations/management, quality assurance, and other activities, meetings or committees as assigned.

Assigned Duties include but not limited to:

• The Assistant Chief will supervise and provide clinical oversight for the providers and nurse managers at three VA operated CBOCS.
• The Assistant Chief will take an active role and provide provider level leadership and guidance for non-traditional care options, and work towards enhancing the use of video and telehealth at Salem VAMC.
• Actively participate in Medical Center Committees, workgroups and will provide leadership role in performance improvement initiatives.
• Participates in recruitment, retention, resource management, and clinical practice management in all functional areas under her/his oversight.
• The Assistant Chief will have a working knowledge of clinical performance metrics such as HEDIS, EPRP, Hospital Compare, CG-CAHPS etc.
• Collaborate to ensure on-time resolution of patient complaints and concerns received via patient advocacy, congressional office, White House Hotline, OIG and other suspended inquiries for the CBOCS.
• Performs appropriate evaluation and management of patients to include ordering of diagnostic tests, consultations and discriminates between normal and abnormal findings. Makes appropriate care decisions based on evaluations and results.
• Participates in team meetings and treatment planning conferences. Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care.
• Documents in the medical record in keeping in with the Bylaws of the Medical Center.
• Provide clinical care to Veterans and provides clinical oversight of the PACT team to which assigned.
• Ensures that medical treatment or care plans consist of current best medical practices and are evidence based if possible.
• Ensures practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission, CARF, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, VISN standards, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, mandatory continuing education, and HIPAA policies.
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
• Ensures productivity is maintained at the established level in the programs for which he/she is responsible.
• Knowledge of the FPPE and OPPE processes to evaluate and assess patient care services provided by the PA and NP staff.
• Actively promotes a customer-oriented culture and promotes the hiring of persons who demonstrate the VA's iCARE values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence.
• Encourages an atmosphere of trust, psychological safety and empowerment in all functional areas under her/his oversight.
• Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently at the lowest level.
• Completes projects or duties as assigned by the Chief, PCSL.

Work Schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Discloser 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 a 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

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: Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following: (1) Master's degree in any discipline; OR (2) Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.
Certification: Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
• Licensure: PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State. -
  • Exceptions for Graduate PAs.
    • (a) PAs who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PA on a temporary full-time appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).
    • (b) Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
    • (c) Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed PAs currently employed by VA as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.

The full performance level of this vacancy is VN-0603-IV. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is VN-0603-IV.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

Experience. PA clinical leaders/administrative leaders require five years of experience which include leadership assignments that involved formulating program objective and priorities, implementing plans and practices, and interpreting regulatory and organizational guidance to develop and implement policies and/or procedures.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. PAs should be able to demonstrate, develop or acquire the following upon appointment for this grade (PA-IV):

• Ability to assess information and make recommendations that may significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of programs concerning critical matters or key issues within the health care system.
• Ability to schedule and supervise staff, students, or ancillary personnel, to include conducting performance evaluations.
• Skill in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling an integrated program.
• Skill in design, management of budget, and cost benefit analysis to ensure optimal stewardship of resources.
• Ability to analyze complex medical care, organization processes and/or systems, and develop and implement solutions that improve outcomes at the program or service level.
• Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies or procedures to justify program goals and motivate assigned personnel.
• Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
• Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
• Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.

References: VA Directive and Handbook 5005: APPENDIX G8. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT QUALIFICATION STANDARD VN-0603.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking (1 hour), standing (1 hour), near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability, working inside and outside, working closely with others, working alone, working with hands in water, protracted or irregular hours of work, slippery or uneven walking surfaces.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

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.

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 .