Summary The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, is seeking a Physician (Chief, Geriatrics and Extended Care Service) responsible for the overall operation of the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service, whose mission is to provide a continuum of quality care to our Veterans in the area of Geriatrics. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive is authorized for a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Responsibilities The Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Chief oversees all administrative aspects of Geriatrics and Extended Care Service, to include but not limited to budget and fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, and program development, assuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimum utilization of the available resources. The incumbent ensures the quality and timeliness of the services provided, customer satisfaction, as well as compliance with standards of accrediting bodies such as the Joint Commission and the Inspector General's Combined Assessment Program. He/she is responsible for appropriate use of available resources as well as for inspiring, motivating, and guiding Geriatrics and Extended Care Service staff in achieving the strategic goals and plans of the Service. The incumbent collaborates with other Service Chiefs and program managers in fulfilling their responsibilities. The Geriatrics and Extended Care Service Chief will also function as a provider in their specialty. The incumbent will be responsible for the overall medical care of patients with conditions requiring treatment in their specialty to include consultative, prescriptive and ordering authority in the outpatient/ambulatory basic setting at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System. He/she ensures the quality and timeliness of the services provided and collaborates with referring providers. The Geriatrics and Extended Care Service Chief accomplishes the health care delivery mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs in general. Services provided are subject to scrutiny by Congressional interests, service organizations, the general public and the media. The Geriatrics and Extended Care Service Chief is to be a physician, board certified or board eligible in their specialty, having completed an appropriate residency or fellowship. Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support is required. Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification is recommended. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Telework: As determined by the agency policy. (Ad-Hoc) Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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 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. 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 dentification 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. 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. 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: 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. Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board eligible Geriatrics or sub-specialty or fellowship. 3-5 years of professional supervisory and Service Level Chief experience in VA or the Department of Defense. Advanced skills to provide a full range of evaluation to determine the @type of degree of illnesses within the specialty scope. Advanced skill and knowledge of contemporary Specialty practice. Working knowledge of Geriatrics Service budgetary requirements, fiscal planning, workload projections, and productivity measures. Working knowledge of regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, e.g., the Joint Commission, OIG, CARF. Advanced skill in providing leadership and accountability of all aspects of the service in support of the mission and values of the health care system. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Walking (1hrs); Standing (2hrs); Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental/ Emotional 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. 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.
