Physician-Chief of Geriatrics & Extended Care

<p>This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 26, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut-off dates are on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN7EDRPFacilityCoordinators2@va.gov ,the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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. Chief-Geriatrics and Extended Care Executive Leadership & Program Oversight Serves as the facility's senior executive authority on all geriatrics and extended care clinical and administrative matters Provides strategic vision and day-to-day leadership across the full GEC service line, ensuring alignment with VA Central Office directives, VISN 7 priorities, and local medical center goals Reports to medical center senior leadership and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, representing GEC interests in facility-wide planning and resource allocation Maintains current knowledge of evolving VA policies, SOCE standards, Joint Commission requirements and national geriatric care best practices Clinical Program Management Provides direct oversight of the Community Living Center (CLC), including skilled nursing, restorative care, and long-term care services, ensuring regulatory compliance and person-centered care delivery Leads the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program, overseeing interdisciplinary team operations to deliver comprehensive primary care to high-risk Veterans in their homes Collaborates closely with Palliative Care & Hospice leadership to ensure seamless, compassionate end-of-life services across inpatient and community settings Partners with program leads for Adult Day Health Care (ADHC), Home/Homemaker Health Aide (H/HHA), Veteran-Directed Care, Purchased Skilled Home Care (PSHC), In-Home Respite (IHR), and Community Nursing Home (CNH) programs Coordinates care transitions and continuity across all GEC programs to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and improve Veteran outcomes Quality, Safety & Compliance Champions a culture of safety and continuous quality improvement across all GEC programs Oversees performance on key national GEC metrics including fall prevention, pain management, pressure injury prevention, restraint reduction, and MDS/OASIS accuracy. Ensures all programs meet or exceed SOCE, Joint Commission, and VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) standards Leads preparation for and response to regulatory surveys, audits, and accreditation reviews Reviews and acts on adverse events, close calls, and patient safety reports in a timely manner Workforce Leadership Recruits, develops, and retains a high-performing, multidisciplinary GEC workforce including physicians, NPs, nurses, social workers, therapists, and support staff Fosters an inclusive, psychologically safe work environment that supports staff engagement, professional growth, and well-being Conducts or oversees performance evaluations, competency assessments, and progressive disciplinary actions in accordance with VA HR policy Serves as a mentor and resource for GEC clinical staff, trainees, and affiliated academic partners Program Development & Strategic Growth Leads expansion and innovation efforts across GEC services to meet the evolving needs of Augusta's aging Veteran population Identifies gaps in care, evaluates community resources, and develops new programs or partnerships to address unmet needs Collaborates with Community Care, VISN 7 GEC leadership, and VA Central Office on initiatives such as MISSION Act-related community care integration Represents VA Augusta GEC at local, VISN, and national conferences, workgroups, and committees Data Stewardship & Information Security Ensures all GEC staff handle sensitive Veteran health information in full compliance with VA privacy, HIPAA, and information security policies Utilizes VA data systems (CPRS, VSSC, CDW, etc.) to monitor program performance, track outcomes, and support data-driven decision-making Maintains accurate and timely documentation and reporting for all GEC programs Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Work Schedule subject to change based on agency needs.</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.<h3>Education</h3>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. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. 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.