Summary The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is seeking a Physician (Associate Chief of Staff-Ambulatory Care Service-South Location) with leadership skills who can lead the current clinical services and team. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Responsibilities The ACOS, Ambulatory Care is responsible for leadership and oversight of the day to day operations of Primary Care, Whole Health and other programs as deemed appropriate. The ACOS, Ambulatory Care has leadership and oversight for the Austin, Cedar Park, College Station and LaGrange VA facilities. As a supervisory position, the ACOS provides clinical practice leadership in implementation of VA policies and procedures in Primary Care. Applies PACT principles to attain PACT performance measure goals to provide timely access and quality to care to Veterans in a patient centered fashion and to attain high patient satisfaction ratings (Performance Measures / SAIL/Encounters/unsigned/un-cosigned notes). Works collaboratively with other services supporting Patient Aligned Care Teams to include Nursing, Social Work, Mental Health, Pharmacy, and Dieticians. The ACOS brings leadership experience in building new clinic and procedure spaces and enhancing tele health. Establish a culture of quality and safety with these areas and ensure that quality, safety, timeliness, and appropriateness of care are continually monitored and evaluated in conjunction with facility strategic goals. Promote innovation, inspire organizational excellence, and engage the workforce. Priority initiatives include expansion of video encounters and creation of innovative strategies to meet the needs of Veterans patient care. Reviews applications and credentials for membership to the medical staff; interview prospective physicians and mid-level providers; implement and monitor in-house Continuing Professional Education (CPE) training; maintaining the provider specific folders of supervising Physicians and Mid-Levels, and evaluating patient care through an ongoing quality assurance program that identifies problems and their resolution. Monitors the clinical performance of individuals with clinical privileges, drug utilization evaluation, medical records reviews, performance of external services, patient satisfaction, patient complaints (Congressional, STDs, etc.) Participates in top level decisions that impact functional areas under his/her oversight through collaborations with Executive leadership. Responsible for consulting with other health care providers to provide training and mentoring and to be directly involved with the evaluation medically complex patient care problems. Participates in the planning, budgeting, and evaluation of the primary care programs. Participates in administrative, management, quality assurance, and other requirements activities, meetings, or committees as necessary or assigned. Provides direct clinical care either in person or by Telehealth. Clinical time 25%. Ensures Productivity. The ACOS has a key role in the oversight of the Whole Health Program within the healthcare system. Collaborates with the Whole Health Director who functions in the lead management role with the Whole Health Program. Visit sites under supervision at least once every quarter. Leads Committees as determined by Chief of Staff. Works collaboratively with ACOS Ambulatory Care-North on performance measures, SAIL, and system development and implementation. In doing so, both will ensure that practices within the System are uniform. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and may require to work on weekends and holidays. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized 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 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 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. 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. Licensure and Registration: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR 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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified In Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Primary Care leadership experience and excellent communication skills. Knowledge of regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, i.e. Joint Commission, OIG, etc. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (8hrs); Standing (8hrs); Repeated bending (2-4hrs); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental/ Emotional Stability; Ability to perform privileges Independently perform physical exam; Cognitive Stability. 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.] 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 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.