The Geriatrics & Extended Care Service provides care in two settings: inpatient Community Living Center & outpatient programs including Home Based Primary Care, Home & Community Based Care and Care Coordination Home Telehealth. G&EC also works cooperatively with the NC State Veteran's Home. Geriatricians assigned to the G&EC Service provide care for both inpatients & outpatients. The ACOS/G&EC Service is responsible for the overall clinical and administrative function of the G&EC Service Line.
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: Preferred candidate will be physician who is board certified in Geriatrics. Candidate must have or secure a NC medical license. Management experience desirable with proven leadership skills. The Salisbury VA is completely computerized. Computer skills are highly desirable. See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G for additional qualifications. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Functions: The Associate Chief of Staff/Geriatrics and Extended Care (ACOS/G&EC) has overall responsibility and accountability for ensuring implementation of established policies and for providing overall direction in the continuing operation of the service line. The incumbent monitors and ensures medical staff compliance with agency regulations, medical staff bylaws, The Joint Commission standards, and other appropriate regulations. The incumbent directly and indirectly supervises an interdisciplinary staff of physicians, physician extenders, social workers, nurses, and other clerical and support staff. The ACOS G&EC responsibilities include supervision of the inpatient Community Living Center, the Palliative Care program, the Non-Institutional Outpatient Care programs including Home Based Primary Care (HBPC), Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) and Care Coordination Home Telehealth (CCHT) as well as outpatient geriatrics clinics. The applicant must meet appointment requirements for a faculty position with academic affiliates and be approved by the Deans committee. Effective written and oral communication and interpersonal skills are required with the ability to clearly speak English. Strong leadership skills are required. Performance measures and monitors are the responsibility of the ACOS as well as promoting adherence to VA regulations and Joint Commission standards, OIG requirements and SOARS guidelines. Incorporation of operational efficiencies includes reduction of overtime, increased inpatient workload/throughput; clinic access, missed opportunity, accurate documentation minimizing copy and paste are to be compliant. The ACOS G&EC is required to implement and support effective performance improvement initiatives that improve clinical outcomes and customer satisfaction. Duties: Coordinates care in all areas of the G&EC Service including the CLC, Palliative Care, HBPC, HCBC, CCHT and any expansion in the future such as Geriatric Primary Care and Geriatric Evaluation & Management (GEM) Clinics; develops and oversees the care and supervision provided by both physicians and mid-level providers; provides direct patient care to patients and provides clinical guidance to mid-level providers. Coordinates educational programs with academically affiliated medical schools, students, residents, fellows with VA staff for quality education; coordinates educational experiences with other health care students seeking training in geriatrics services (e.g., psychology and social work interns, mental health residents, physician assistant and nursing students, and medical residents). Initiates interdisciplinary team activities to achieve optimum interdepartmental cooperation to assure the quality patient care is maintained or improved. Is responsible for the progressive improvement of the service delivery, which may include programmatic participation in initiatives within the facility. Is available for emergency interventions. Participates in multiple hospital, VISN and national committees, departmental and hospital in-service programs, and education programs of the department and the hospital as well as continuous quality improvement through peer review process. Is responsible for Quality Management and Quality Improvement Activities such as Medical Record Review, Drug Utilization Evaluation in consultation with pharmacist, Peer Reviews and Root Cause Analysis Reviews, analyzes, and reports on monthly and annual data from facilities as a means of monitoring growth and integration of services in addition to identifying areas of need and expansion. Leads clinical improvement and systems redesign initiatives. Ensures the performance success of the VISN's Geriatrics, exceeding all related performance targets and leading the nation in performance overall. Encourages and stimulates the development and improvement of VISN programs by making available the bet current knowledge of successful projects. Plans, leads, provides educational opportunities for staff, patients and families while supporting staff education and certification. Supervisory Controls: The individual is administratively and clinically responsible to the Chief of Staff. Computer Security: In the performance of official duties, the employee has regular access to printed and electronic files. containing sensitive data that must be protected under the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy. The incumbent is responsible for: 1) protecting data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion and 2) following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in a computer access agreement which the employee signs.