Summary

The Section Chief-Home Based Primary Care within Geriatrics and Extended Care Service (GEC) is a leadership position that is responsible for all aspects of geriatrics - palliative and hospice care within the defined section - and supervision of staff.

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
• Preferred Experience: Board certification Geriatric Medicine and/or Palliative Medicine Board certification Internal Medicine Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity (including depth perception) - keen hearing (aide permitted) - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity in both hands
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking (2-4 hours) - standing (2-6 hours) - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling (1-2 hours) - and pushing (1-2 hours)
• lifting (15 pounds) - carrying (15 pounds)
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• The incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• 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 The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 - 2026 or until all positions are filled
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 15 November 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred to at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but not be limited to: Planning - organizing - developing - implementing - controlling - and refining comprehensive patient management - clinical support within HBPC
• Provides services - technical counsel - and leadership guidance necessary to Section staff - to meet the care and treatment needs of patients within HBPC
• Maintain records of meetings that include reports of conclusions - data recommendations - responsible person - actions taken and an evaluation of effectiveness of actions taken as appropriate
• Supervision of direct-report staff and evaluations: OPPE/FPPE
• proficiency/Personnel Actions and Peer Reviews
• Developing both short and long-term strategic plans for HBPC in the context of GEC
• Perform appropriate evaluations - diagnosis - and treatment of patients within HBPC
• Provides full range of therapeutic interventions in assigned HVAMC units/programs related to HBPC and has clinical privileges to practice including assessment - evaluation - and management in these units/programs
• Plans and oversees completion of personal quality improvement initiatives or research related to program planning and improvement
• Participate effectively in team meetings and treatment planning conferences and collaborates with IDT members in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive Veteran-centered care
• Orders diagnostic tests and discriminates between normal/abnormal findings and makes appropriate treatment decisions based on available information
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Plans and oversees completion of personal quality improvement initiatives or research related to program planning and improvement
• Support and ensure compliance on the part of his/her/their staff support of student trainees/resident/NP/PA supervision policy - clinical reminders - completion of encounters and notes - performance measures - and indicators as required by local - VISN - and national administrative policy
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• 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: 8:00AM-4:30PM - Monday - Friday - 40 hours/per week