Summary

The Regional Section Chief provides operational - clinical - and administrative leadership for assigned Primary Care providers at assigned Montana Veterans Health Administration Health Care System (MTVAHCS) facilities. The incumbent ensures delivery of high-quality - evidence-based - Veteran-centered care; oversees Primary Care providers and teams; supports compliance with regulatory standards; and executes organizational performance strategies across their region

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Candidate must have leadership experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Ability to perform duties involving prolonged computer use - sitting - standing - and periodic travel to regional clinics - VISN meetings - and training sessions

Duties

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• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Leadership & Administrative Responsibilities - Leads planning - organizing - developing - implementing - and refining Primary Care delivery within assigned clinics
• - Ensures alignment with VHA - VISN - and facility-level policies and standards
• - Oversees regional operations including provider staffing - scheduling - morale concerns - resource needs - and workflow optimization
• - Collaborates with service line leadership - including the Associate Chief of Staff Primary Care (ACOS PC) - Deputy Chief of Primary Care - and other service chiefs
• - Ensures clinical contracts and contracted services within assigned areas meet quality and value expectations
• - Supports implementation of clinical performance strategies - reminders - templates - and process improvement initiatives
• Supervisory Responsibilities - Primary Care Providers - Provides direct supervision to all physicians - nurse practitioners - and physician assistants assigned to the region
• - Communicates service goals - performance expectations - and clinical priorities consistently across the regional team
• - Oversees provider performance - including productivity - panel management - documentation - scheduling practices - and patient care standards
• Required Annual / Ongoing Program Completion - Patient Advocate Tracking System - (PATS)
• The Regional Section Chief holds direct responsibility for processing - reviewing - and acting upon all PATS submissions pertaining to their respective Primary Care providers
• JPSR Joint Patient Safety Reporting (JPSR)
• -The Regional Section Chief is responsible not only for ensuring submissions occur-but also for processing and reviewing each JPSR submitted within their region
• Ongoing/Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE/FPPE)
• -The Regional Section Chief ensures ongoing professional performance oversight
• VA Talent Management System (ePerformance)
• -The Regional Section Chief ensures rigorous evaluation of provider performance
• Pay-for-Performance (P4P)
• -The Regional Section Chief ensures physician understanding and engagement with quality and productivity metrics
• Talent Management System (TMS)
• -The Regional Section Chief ensures all mandatory training and education requirements are met
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• 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
• 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: Monday through Friday - 8am-4:30pm