Career Center

Summary

The VACIHS is seeking an experienced full-time permanent physician to serve as Cardiology Section Chief. The Cardiology Section Chief supervises the Cardiology providers and the Medical Instrument Technicians Supervisor directly. The Cardiology Section Chief reports directly to the ACOS Chief Specialty Care.

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
• Additional Requirement: Board certified in Cardiology or Internal Medicine
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• The Cardiology Section Chief will provide consultation services and follow up of medical subspecialty patients - in his or her designated field - in the inpatient and outpatient setting - at the VA Medical center in Des Moines - or one of the affiliated CBOCs (Community Based Outpatient Clinics)
• Duties include: Direction of the cardiology service - to include timely provision of high quality services - scheduling - and personnel management Administrative duties to include: Clinical oversight - participation in facility - VISN - and National committees/workgroups
• Supervision of cardiology providers - including leave adjudication - addressing conduct - training - and timeliness of documentation and assignments
• Preparing the Cardiology service work schedule for the Cardiologist and ARNP/PA positions to assure adequate coverage
• The service schedule includes: Clinic - Inpatient - Nuclear Stress Test - Non-Invasive - Cath/Clinic - Pacemaker - Heart Failure - and all future Cardiology procedures
• Optimizing clinic flow and processes to ensure Veterans are provided with high quality and timely care
• Assignment and ensuring the completion of Peer Reviews - Service Level Reviews - Patient Advocate Complaints - and developing and implementing action plans related to Service/section-level performance monitors
• Comply with the bylaws - rules and regulations of the facility and agency
• Cardiologists may travel to CBOCs as requested/assigned by the ACOS for Specialty Care
• Physician should have expertise in non-invasive cardiology
• including echocardiography - TEE and nuclear cardiology skills and stress testing
• Invasive cardiology may be indicated depending on facility privileging
• On call duties may be assigned as necessary
• Participation in special projects may be necessary
• Examples of such projects may include chronic disease management program such as Congestive Heart Failure or Hypertension programs
• When working with inpatients - provider is expected to participate in discharge planning and other interdisciplinary patient care plan activities
• During this time - information regarding patient status should be discussed with the hospitalists and other team members and ensure proper hand off at the end of the shift as necessary
• A progress note must be entered on all inpatients on which the physician rounds during day tour on a weekday - and on weekends or holidays in accordance with documentation policy
• The discharge summary may be dictated - all other inpatient documentation should be entered by the physician into the medical record directly
• Prohibited abbreviations should not be used
• Physicians may be assigned as a supervising or collaborating physician for a mid-level provider
• Physicians are expected to provide clinical oversight and review
• Supervising or collaborating responsibilities and performance will be noted in the physician's performance evaluation
• Providers will act as surrogates for the patients of their colleagues - when one or more of their colleagues are on leave
• Physicians will work within their privileges - unless necessitated by an emergency Interpersonal relationships - works effectively with patients - families - staff - coworkers and other health care professionals
• Participates in Medical Service educational activities and scheduled meetings such as Grand Rounds 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 - 7:30am - 4:30pm
• Additional information may be provided during an interview.