Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) Geriatrics & Extended Care Service is recruiting a Physician for the Community Living Center (CLC) - Medical Director position. Join us and help shape the Future of Veteran Care in Geriatrics and Extended Services at the VA in Albuquerque - NM.

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:

• 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
• Additional Requirement: Board Eligibility or Board Certification in internal medicine or family medicine - preferred Board Eligibility or Board Certification in Geriatric Medicine
• 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
• Qualified candidates must also be American Heart Association BLS and ACLS certified
• Preferred Experience: Geriatrics experience of two years or greater - preferred Board Eligibility or Board Certification in Geriatric Medicine
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Position duties for the CLC Medical Director include but are not limited to the following: Lead and participate in quality assurance improvement projects within the CLC andengages in NMVAMC committees - such as but not limited to: Infection Control - National CLC calls - VISN level calls - QAPI - and other National efforts (e.g. - CONCERT)
• Serve as a key member of the CLC leadership team responsible for CLC Operational responsibilities in this role to include: responsible with CLC leadership for all admissions and oversight of screening process
• collaborates with the hospital UR/UM team to maximize as appropriate patient movement from the hospital to the CLC
• coordination of new admissions to the CLC
• respond to any suspense - Congressional - OIG - LTCI etc
• related to CLC medical care
• back up on-call for any emergency at the CLC (after hours and weekends as needed)
• assist with on call sign out if CLC on-call physician is unable to access CPRS
• work closely with Infection Control to manage any infectious outbreak at the CLC
• write and submit Issue Briefs to the VISN related toinfectious outbreak at the CLC
• provide support to the Interdisciplinary Care Plan team regarding difficult clinical or administrative issues at the CLC
• collaborate with nursing leaders and QI nurse to prepare for Ascellon survey and maintain survey readiness
• create and update CLC on call schedule and CLC day call schedule
• update all CLCpolicies
• participate in hiring of interdisciplinary team supervisors or nursing leaders if appropriate
• serves as a change leader within the CLC together with CLC leadership
• support the work of the MDS nurses and care team members to maximize revenue
• Serve as a consultant - collaborator - and contributor to the CLC interdisciplinary team and program
• As both Medical Director and physician - the CLC Medical Director is expected to be trained in and demonstrate a high degree of knowledge in evidence-based geriatric medicine to include knowledge and application of geriatric principles - knowledge and use of geriatric assessments - primary care management of complex chronic illnesses - ability to evaluate for decision making capacity - evidence-based prognostication - communication skills including ability to facilitate and perform difficult conversations - and working in interprofessional teams
• Provide primary care to CLC Veterans that includes assessment of patients - identification of medical problems - direction of medical management - participation in the development of individual plans of care during interprofessional care plan meetings - and determination of the need for other subspecialty services
• This also includes end of life care
• Works to assure a safe and sanitary environment for residents and personnel
• Identify hazards for health and safety by reviewing and evaluating any joint patientreporting system (JPSR) reports
• Provide night and weekend coverage on an on-call basis for CLC coverage - in rotation with other assigned CLC providers
• All staff members with privileges in Geriatrics & Extended Care Service shall be qualified to perform evaluation and management services - including complete history and physical examinations (including evaluation - diagnosis - medical management - and treatment) - interim evaluations - and ordering of diagnostic studies and consultations relevant to the patient's medical problems
• The staff shall be privileged to supervise and assist Fellows - Residents - students - and affiliated health staff - in their evaluation and management of patients - and collaborate with a PharmD
• BLS is mandatory for all providers - and ACLS is mandatory for all providers who participate in cases in which moderate sedation is administered.***CLC PROFICIENCY: All staff members who care for patients in the Community Living Center shall be privileged to admit - treat - medically manage - and discharge patients from the Community Living Center
• 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: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• Monday - Friday