Summary The Chief of Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine has a broad range of authority with responsibility for the direction and productivity of the clinical rheumatology programs, supervision of the rheumatology section staff, maintaining professional and quality control standards, representing the Medicine Service, and participating in patient care. They serve as clinical authority for professional, licensed, and certified clinical rheumatology staff. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Administrative: Strengthens and facilitates communication among members of the Rheumatology Section and with other Medicine Service supervisors. Reviews and monitors the clinical privileges of Rheumatology staff in consultation with the provider. Recommends disciplinary action for professional staff conduct detrimental to the service and veteran. Provide leadership and oversight of provider coding practices for billing purposes. Establishes and manages a quality assurance/improvement plan for the Rheumatology section in coordination with quality management. Monitors and approves all leaves of absence for Rheumatology staff members. Responsible for completing OPPEs and clinical pertinence reviews for providers within the Rheumatology section. Attend Medical Center Committee meetings which oversee the quality of care and review and approve Rheumatology section policies and procedures. Administers and participates in the Peer Review process. Reviews/resolves patient complaints/grievances and directs modification of the system to diminish and eliminate further complaints/grievances with the assistance of the ACOS/Medicine Service. Acts as a liaison for the medicine service involving Rheumatology matters with outside organizations, including local hospitals, clinics and other appropriate organizations. Responsible for assisting the AO and ACOS with physician/mid-level and other clinical staff recruitment for the medicine section. Helps ensure patient confidentiality and is an advocate for patient rights and responsibilities. Performs other health leadership, management, and clinical duties as required. Ensure that all providers are maintaining continuing medical education adequate to keep knowledge and skills current and to maintain licensure and board certifications. Responsible for monitoring, assigning and coordinating the safety of patient testing, challenges and procedures (SOP). Serves as acting Chief of the Department, as needed. Responsible for educational guidance and supervision for medical students and residents (interns, residents, and/or fellows) assigned to Rheumatology according to the standards outlined in Center Policy Memorandum, 11-4, "Supervision of Postgraduate Residents". Participates in and attends medical center committees and/or teams as assigned by the Chief Medicine Service and in his/her absence. Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services, such as Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, as assigned by Chief, Medicine Service. Demonstrates commitment to high-quality customer service, including specific measures identified as performance goals by the Medical Center. Identifies individual professional learning needs and participates in formal programs, workshops, seminars, conferences, as well as self-directed learning activities, completes facility-wide mandatory education yearly. Adheres to all information security and privacy measures set by VHA and the Medical Center. Clinical: Clinically and administratively directs and supervises the clinical Rheumatology staff. Responsible for ensuring that high-quality medical care is consistently provided in the Rheumatology outpatient clinics and inpatient consults. Responsible for developing, monitoring, and enforcing clinical practice standards, policies and procedures for Rheumatology providers. a) Maintains clinical privileges in the areas of his/her expertise and in all areas required to carry out the duties of his/her assignments/responsibilities within Medicine Services. b) Demonstrate sound decision-making skills, both clinical and administrative, which bring credit to the profession and serve to enhance the distinctive and contributory role of physicians. c) Facilitate the delivery of appropriate patient care in collaboration with other health professionals, medical center staff, and management. d) Participates as a peer reviewer process when requested. e) Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and finding from research and studies. Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal. f) Completes all medical record documentation in CPRS in a timely manner, including view alerts and encounter completion. g) Includes patient/family/significant other/health care provider in establishing realistic, measurable goals related to health education and treatment plan and in planning care on a continuum; assists staff in the process of mutual goal setting. h) Demonstrates skill in the implementation of clinical practice guidelines and protocols for patients with complex medical care needs. i) Documents administrative and clinical information in a thorough and accurate manner. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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. Education 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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] Academic: (Applies only to physicians with Wake Forest faculty appointments.)a. Participates in the formal education of the residents, fellows and medical students by presenting teaching rounds, lectures, conferences, etc.b. Participates in grading sessions for medical students and GME trainees assigned to their services.c. Demonstrates and trains medical students/resident, fellows in medical procedures that are required to provide optimal patient care appropriate to their expertise.d. Assists in the development and implementation of education and training programs for medical students and fellows and residents, rotating through Medicine Service and accountable Clinical Services.e. Meets scholarly activity requirements, including peer-reviewed publication and national professional organization participation. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information The incumbent must demonstrate skills in exercising a high degree of initiative, judgment, discretion, and decision-making to achieve organizational objectives. The Chief of Rheumatology will meet basic requirements and hold a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy; complete an ACGME accredited residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Rheumatology; and be licensed to practice without restrictions in a state or territory of the United States. The incumbent will be board eligible/board certified in Rheumatology. 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.