The Deputy Chief - Surgical Service is a surgical or sub-specialty professional involved in the care of our patients providing comprehensive - efficient - compassionate - high-quality healthcare to all Veterans - functioning as a member of the Surgical Service team providing clinical care to the patients at NMVAHCS.
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
Education
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
License
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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR 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
English Language Proficiency
Proficiency in spoken and written English
Supervisory Controls The physician is under the direct supervision of the Chief - Surgical Service
Consults with the supervisor as needed and with colleagues to develop knowledge and apply agency policies and practices to new matters
His/her work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance with procedures and practices applicable to the subject
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions
Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs
and over with assistive devices - heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs
and over with assistive devices
reaching above shoulder
use of fingers - both hands required - walking or standing up to 4 hours per day
repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day
ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
near vision correctable
hearing aid permitted.
Duties
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
VHA Physician Total Rewards
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Not Authorized Learn more
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 to include - but not limited to: The Deputy Chief of Surgery will support the Chief of Surgery in performing clinical and administrative management of the Department of Surgery
The incumbent will have strong leadership abilities in both clinical and administrative aspects of surgical care
The Deputy Chief of Surgery will equally share the administrative duties with the Service Chief as well as assist in duties that include but are not limited to be Development and implementation of a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in coordination with the VHA Mission
Maintaining a collaborative partnership with all other service chiefs and leadership at NMVAHCS
Oversight of the various sections within the service and ensure they are compliant with VHA policy
Maintain privileges and practice in his/her specialty field
Ensuring high quality patient care is delivered in a resource efficient manner
Promoting the development of healthcare professionals within the service
Participating in the selection of qualified professional staff and ensure that recruitment and hiring meets VA and academic affiliation requirements
The incumbent will be knowledgeable in the functioning of residency and allied health educational programs within the service
Participating and assisting with monthly staff meetings
Ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to review - analyze - and evaluate patient care activities
Monitoring and tracking performance measures under Surgical Services scope of practice
Monitoring and ensuring each section's staff are in compliance with VA - Joint Commission - and all other pertinent regulations/policies as appropriate
The Deputy Chief - Surgical Service will be available to provide consultation and facilitate disposition of surgical care for our patients
The Deputy Chief will demonstrate the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers - maintain the confidentiality of patient/employee information - and to function and work in a safe manner - as well as the knowledge of changes associated with ageing and principles of human growth and development possess the ability to assess and interpret patient data - and the ability to identify age-specific needs such as incorporating age specific factors - and needs into patient care activities
Surgical Department strives to maintain a safe working environment - in which we identify and address issues and concerns as they relate to discrimination - biases and safety problems within Surgery Section
This position carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico
Applicants must have the appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center
Functions/Scope Participate in an effective clinical program with attention to patient outcome indicators
Practice within the scope of assigned privileges
Comply with the bylaws - rules and regulations of the facility and agency
Meet Surgery staff criteria for initial appointment and reappointment - including ongoing CME
Administrative Comply with prescribed record keeping practices in accordance with the rules - regulations and bylaws
Comply with prescribed information security policy and procedures
Interpersonal relationships - works effectively with patients - families - staff - coworkers and other health care professionals
Participates in Surgical Service educational activities and scheduled meetings
Participates in research activities with regard to the specialty of Surgery - as assigned
Comply with assigned Peer Reviews and maintaining quality assurance standards
Work Schedule: Full time - Monday thru Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
This position does require holidays - weekends and on call.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.