Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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 Certified or Board Eligible in Psychiatrist
• Preferred Experience: Possess three (3) years of Mental Health clinical leadership experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

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): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 7:30am - 4:00pm 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 The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) of Mental Health (MH) is responsible for the overall clinical - administrative - and programmatic operations of the Mental Health Service
• The ACOS of MH will also serve as a Mental Health clinician according to approved clinical privileges at VA PIHCS with an expected average clinical time of at least 0.1 FTEE per week
• The incumbent reports to the COS and serves as a key clinical resource for the Health System Leadership
• The MH Service Line at VAPIHCS includes General MH in the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) and Specialty MH including Inpatient MH - specialty PTSD services - specialty substance use disorder services - residential care - Suicide Prevention Program - Workplace Violence Prevention program - Psychology Training program - and the Homeless program
• Supervision and resource management involve major decisions - and work activities and supervision significantly affect the ability of staff to provide comprehensive services to Veterans
• The ACOS MH will work closely with Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) as part of the VA/DHA sharing agreement and integration of services
• MH treatment programs deliver specialized - complex - and highly professional services that significantly affect the overall health care provided to Veterans
• In support thereof - the incumbent is responsible for the development - coordination - review and evaluation of MH programs - policies and procedures and assumes the authority to ensure implementation - as well as to maintain and improve MH operations
• The incumbent provides oversight of MH administrative and clinical programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process
• The incumbent is responsible for implementation of the various handbooks and directives (i.e. - VHA Directive 1160.01 Uniform MH Services in VHA Medical Points of Service dated 2023-04-27 or its revision) and standards for accrediting bodies (i.e. - Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation for MH programs - The Joint Commission - etc.).Additionally - the incumbent provides oversight for the implementation of MH services and MH hiring initiatives - as well as annual budgetary requests and tracking - and submission of grants and proposals for MH funding
• The major duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Chairing a MH Executive Committee that proposes strategies to improve programming - reviews the timeliness of Veterans' access to MH care - oversees the resources and efficient utilization of these available to MH programs - etc
• Collaborating with the VA medical facility Chief of Staff and the Associate Director for Patient Care Services to review recommendations submitted by the VISN
• Ensuring written plans consistent with national policy for responding to MH emergencies are developed and communicated broadly across the health care system to ensure Veteran safety
• Ensuring same day access - screenings and wam1 handoffs for Veterans who attempt to engage with MH services or regarding a concern
• Designating VA medical facility MH Discipline Leaders for Psychology - Psychiatry - MH Social Work and MH Nursing in collaboration with Nursing and Social Work leadership
• further - will consider leaders for other MH disciplines when staffing levels warrant
• Establishing clearly defined processes for how Veterans progress through the continuum of MH care - including transitions to treatment settings where MH care may be provided by a non-MH care provider
• Responsibilities include hands on clinical work - oversight - and administration of all aspects of the service - including an extensive research program and guidance and training for residents and other trainees.