Summary This Job announcement is for to current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration only. Responsibilities The Deputy Chief of Primary Care serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Chief of Primary Care. The incumbent is responsible for the management and oversight of Primary Care services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care to Veterans. The Deputy Chief of Primary Care plays a critical role in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical programs and initiatives within the Primary Care service line. 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 duties and responsibilities of the Physician - Deputy Chief of Primary Care include, but are not limited to the following: Assists the Chief of Primary Care in planning, organizing, and directing the clinical and administrative operations of the Primary Care service. Facilitates effective communication and coordination between Primary Care and other clinical and administrative services. Manages budgetary and resource allocation decisions to support the goals and objectives of Primary Care. Assumes acting Chief of Primary Care responsibilities in the absence of the Chief. Ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care to Veterans. Oversees the implementation of clinical guidelines, protocols, and standards of care. Promotes continuous improvement in clinical outcomes, patient safety, and patient satisfaction. Coordinates and supports interdisciplinary team-based care and integrated care models. Assists in the development and evaluation of new programs and initiatives to enhance the quality and accessibility of Primary Care services. Analyzes data and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions. Provides supervision, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for clinical and administrative staff. Conducts performance evaluations and addresses performance issues in a timely and effective manner. Fosters collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including other VA services, community partners, and academic affiliates. Serves as a liaison to promote the integration of Primary Care with other health care services and community resources. Supports educational activities for medical students, residents, and fellows. Promotes continuing education and professional development activities for Primary Care staff. Facilitates training and education programs related to Primary Care. Provide comprehensive primary care services to a designated panel of patients, including preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic services. Conduct thorough examinations, develop differential diagnosis, and design treatment plans. Order and interpret laboratory, imaging, and other diagnostic tests. Provide counseling and education to patients on health conditions, wellness, and preventive health measures. Manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Coordinate care with specialists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Maintain accurate, timely, and complete medical records using the designated electronic health record (EHR) system. Ensure all documentation complies with departmental policies, federal regulations, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standards. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, OR 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. 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 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: Has 5 years or more experience working in Primary Care for the Veteran's Health Administration. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in a clinic setting. May be required to work evenings or weekends to meet patient care needs. Requires standing, walking, bending, and lifting of medical records or supplies. Must be able to perform light physical exertion. This position requires the physical ability to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office equipment. The incumbent must be able to travel to various locations within the medical center and community as needed. 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. 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. 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.
