Physician - Medical Director of Community Care

This Job announcement is for to current, permanent employees of the Central Virginia VA Health Care System only.

The Medical Director of Community Care (CC) reports to the Assistant Director of the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FHCC) and serves as the clinical and administrative coordinator providing leadership and oversight of the Community Care program for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System. The incumbent is responsible for managing a subordinate team and working across Central Virginia VA Health Care System facilities, Community Care leadership, clinical teams, and external providers to facilitate timely referrals, consult reviews, care coordination, and high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services for Veterans receiving care in the community. These areas may be supervised by other staff who ultimately report up to the Medical Director of Community Care.

The Richmond VA Medical Center is a level 1a 349-bed facility offering primary, secondary, and tertiary health care in medicine, surgery, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, intermediate care, acute and sustaining spinal cord injury, skilled nursing home care, and palliative care. There are four community-based outpatient clinics located in Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Emporia and Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and a strong affiliation with the Medical College of Virginia.

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

The physician assumes direct responsibility for administrative and clinical operations within the local Community Care (CC) department. This includes leadership characterized by continuous accountability for integrated programs, coordination across service lines, and facilitation of care with internal and external providers. Responsibilities encompass planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating programs and outcomes; addressing complex personnel issues; participating in executive-level decision-making; and guiding the development and implementation of standards for Community Care.

The duties and responsibilities of the Medical Director of Community Care include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assisting physicians and advanced practitioners with consults and care coordination.
• Provide clinical guidance to Community Care staff; assist in training and development of staff and stakeholders.
• Serve as a clinical liaison between VA teams and community providers to ensure seamless care coordination.
  Facilitate communication between Community Care staff and leadership.
• Act as a content expert with Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs providers.
• Adjust work schedules and assignments to meet abrupt and unpredictable workload changes.
• Demonstrate commitment to high-quality customer service and performance goals.
• Ensure adherence to confidentiality, privacy, security, safety, and infection control standards.
• Identify personal learning needs; participate in formal programs, workshops, and self-directed learning.
• Complete mandatory annual education requirements.
• Implement Community Care operating model elements, including care coordination, policies, and technologies.
• Support policy implementation, compliance with VHA directives, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide guidance and education to Community Care staff and stakeholders on Community Care operations, policies, and procedures.
• Assist in policy development related to provider relations and customer service.
• Demonstrate sound decision-making skills that enhance the role of physicians.
• Utilize problem-solving methodologies to address issues impacting consult management or staff performance.
• Determine eligibility for Community Care services.
• Provide guidance to Community Care staff and assist in training related to Community Care processes.
• Facilitate communication to evaluate data and workload demands.
• Build trust and support a collaborative team environment.
• Maintain high standards of customer service and professional conduct.
• Adhere to all confidentiality, privacy, and safety protocols.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 8:00-4:30 PM

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
  • (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
  • (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
  • Exceptions:
    • 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 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.
    • In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of VA system and regulations.
• Knowledge of patient care processes and systems.
• Computer skills and ability to use a variety of software packages.
• Documented ability to coordinate a broad continuum of programs.
• Progressive management experience with strong administrative and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated skills in providing interface with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in clinical decision-making and program oversight within complex care settings.
• Commitment to the Mission and Vision of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Health Administration.
• Knowledge in VHA Community Care directives and guidelines.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:
Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted.

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:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

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.