Physician - Deputy Chief Primary Care

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Longview, Texas blends East Texas hospitality with modern amenities. Just two hours from Dallas, it offers easy access to big-city attractions while maintaining a relaxed, small-town feel. Known for its piney woods, vibrant arts scene, and the Great Texas Balloon Race, Longview is welcoming and affordable place to live and work. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly-qualified applicants.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Desiree.Jackson@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 Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to: VA Clinic in Longview TX is seeking a Deputy Chief, Primary Care Service, assisting in the leadership, planning, coordination, and evaluation of Primary Care programs and services.

Provides direct patient care to a panel of Veterans, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, patient education, and clinical follow-up. The incumbent devotes at least 51 percent of work time to direct patient care activities and serves as the supervising provider for patients managed by advanced practice providers and other clinical staff. The Deputy Chief also functions as a first-line supervisor for employees who provide direct patient care, ensuring clinical quality, patient safety, staff development, and compliance with accreditation and performance standards.

Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to improve access, quality, and patient outcomes; supports quality improvement initiatives; and provides administrative and clinical oversight of Primary Care operations. Acts on behalf of the Chief, Primary Care Service during absences and supports the overall mission, vision, and strategic objectives of the service. The Deputy Chief, Primary Care Service also serves as supervising provider for patients managed by mid-level providers.

Uses assessment skills to examine patients thoroughly, using appropriate medical, clinical, laboratory, and other pertinent data The incumbent ensures proper follow-up for the assigned panel of patients and acts in carrying out patient appointments in assigned time. Serves as a mentor in the role of teacher for Primary Care staff, residents, trainees, students, and other employees. Acts as a consultant for the Primary Care staff in developing, implementing and evaluation diagnosis and treatment of patients with a variety of disease processes.

Selects, develops, and conducts literature searches on researchable problems that are relevant to the health care of Veterans and has a reasonable expectation of successful conclusion. Promotes the Planning and Execution of Research and Development Programs. Reviews/Prepares timely, sound, and orderly reports throughout the service. Collaborates and coordinates with other professional, technical, and administrative staff.

Develops and implements policies and decision-making processes. Work Schedule: 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday - Friday

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: Experience providing and overseeing comprehensive Primary Care services, leading multidisciplinary teams, and promoting high-quality patient care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.