The Chief of Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) reports directly to the Medical Center Director and provides oversight, coordination, and leadership in developing and managing the facility's comprehensive performance and quality program. The Chief of QPS works with the Executive Leadership Team on a daily basis and participates in overall planning and management activities at the senior management level within the Phoenix VA Health Care System.
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), 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. 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. In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Provides executive leadership and direct supervision for staff assigned to Risk Management, Veteran Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP), Tumor Registry, Quality Management and Patient Safety. Works towards achievement of high quality, safe, and cost effective evidence-based outcomes on a continual journey of a high reliability organization Collaborates with both administrative and clinical services to monitor quality and safety within the health care system Responsible for the facility's performance improvement and quality program which establishes, maintains, and monitors standards for the delivery of patient care and ensures fulfillment of the mission of the facility Participates with the executive leadership team as well as other management staff to address an organizational approach in assessing the environment, forecasting trends, transmitting values, communicating ideas, developing and implementing standards and policies, initiating programs and systems and management of care and resources Functions as facilitator in implementing action plans and process improvement strategies at service and medical center levels for follow-up to include regular progress reports Reviews Performance Measures, EPRP, VASQIP data, IPEC, and other quality data for trends and early intervention Applies clinical performance improvement methods, collects outcome data related to policy, procedure, and regulatory compliance. In collaboration with management, the Chief initiates performance improvement and system redesign projects Utilizes data and comparative analytical processes in recommending design and implementation of innovative programs to improve service excellence, customer satisfaction, and compliance with patient care and regulatory standards Actively participates in overall planning and management activities at the senior management level within the PVAHCS Assists management in top-level decision making concerning short and long range strategic planning, policy setting and daily operations; serves as the facility liaison to the VISN Quality Management Office Provides for continual planning to meet accreditation standards and oversight body guidelines on an on-going basis Coordinates facility activities related to Joint Commission standards including survey process preparation and any follow-up Coordinates the Office of Inspector General survey process preparation and follow-up, with the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) survey process preparation and follow-up, as well as other surveys including but not limited to surveys from VA Central Office, the Office of the Medical Inspector, and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Coordinates the facility systems redesign programs, the facility patient safety program, utilization management program, and the risk management program Provides leadership and direction in the development and implementation of systems to continually assess and improve the medical center's performance relative to the VHA Performance Measure Responsible for all hospital accreditation and oversight of surveys Interfaces with all VA regulatory agencies Preferred Experience: 3 years of progressive leadership experience as a senior Physician leader with clinical and administrative oversight for a full range of areas (including inpatient, outpatient care ). Administrative/Process improvement experience and exposure to VISN/National partnership forums/collaboratives/committees. 5 years Quality, Safety, and Improvement Experience Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality Certification 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: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm - Monday through Friday Compressed / Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This not a virtual position. Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified applicant. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer: Not Authorized