Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking a Medical Director (Physician) for the Home Based Primary Care Program to provide comprehensive home-based primary care to frail - chronically ill Veterans. The physician delivers longitudinal care - coordinates with an interdisciplinary team - and supports quality - safety - and performance goals for Veterans with complex medical needs.

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: Qualified candidates must be board eligible or board certified in Geriatrics or have 2 years of experience caring for geriatrics patients in outpatient setting
• Supervisory experience of providers also preferred
• 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

• 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 Major duties of this position include but are not limited to: Assume overall medical responsibility for assigned HBPC patients including input on admission criteria for the HBPC program
• Provide medical directorship of the HBPC program including ensuring clinical metrics and quality standards are met
• Work closely with the HBPC Program Director and GEC Leadership team to ensure high quality care of Veterans enrolled in this program are met - including oversight of satellite HBPC sites in Santa Fe - Gallup - and Farmington
• Adhere to National VHA HBPC Directive to ensure procedures are followed
• Serve as back-up for other HBPC Physicians when indicated
• Identify a patient's medical problems and define the medical management of a patient's medical problems
• Determine the need for consultation from medical - surgical - or psychiatric or other subspecialty clinics
• Determine the need for - and facilitate admission to the hospital and other transitions of care
• Visit the HBPC patients at home for medical evaluation and treatment when clinically indicated
• Must also be able to conducts virtual visit using VA approved platforms
• Provide medical administrative support such as completing physician required orders and forms for the HBPC patients
• Plan and direct the educational and clinical experience of medical students - residents - and fellows assigned to the HBPC Program - when indicated
• Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of HBPC's process for continuous performance improvement
• Be readily available to the team members for collaboration when clinical or program issues arise
• Participate in the development of the individual plan of care at interdisciplinary care meetings for primary care provider assigned panel of patients
• Support the caregiver's capability to continue to provide care
• Educate the staff - patient and the caregiver as necessary and/or appropriate
• Coordinate the process of care with the other team members to maximize efficiency and improve clinical outcomes
• Assess the patient's continuing need for HBPC care and plan for HBPC discharge when indicated
• Document all patient care activities in a timely manner - defined by local policies
• Use VHA and community resources as appropriate
• Support and work with GEC care teams consisting of staff physicians - residents - nurse practitioners - nurses - clerical staff - and other support staff to provide care that is centered on the needs of the patient and patient's family
• Participate in lean processes for the improvement of patient care services to meet changing patient care needs and or staffing levels
• Collaborate in peer review and Quality Improvement initiative when needed
• Perform chart review - conduct Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE)
• Ensure provider competencies are maintained and appropriately documented with the Medical Staff Office and Human Resources
• Participate in clinical and administrative committee assignments at the direction of the Chief - Geriatrics and Extended Care - including at least 50% of regularly scheduled Medical Staff meetings
• Complete all mandatory training and maintain BLS certifications
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm