Physician - Associate Chief

The Associate Chief of Staff for Education provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic leadership for the Medical Center education programs to ensure achievement of the clinical, research, and education goals. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a key clinical resource for the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center and the Chief of Staff. The Associate Chief of Staff for Education also serves as the Designated Education Officer (DEO).

QUALIFICATIONS:

The incumbent is a board eligible (certified strongly preferred) physician with advanced clinical experience as well as demonstrated administrative and leadership skills. Also, meets the requirements for a faculty appointment at the University of MS Medical Center.

The incumbent must have:

• Demonstrated skills in providing clinical interface with academic affiliates and other key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the VA system and its regulations relating to academic affiliates
• Documented ability to maintain and enhance partnerships with academic affiliates and other stakeholders.
• Progressive management experience with strong administrative and interpersonal skills to coordinate a broad continuum of programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to care delivery.

FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities include oversight and administration of all aspects of the Health Care system education, including guidance and training for residents and other trainees as well as hands on clinical work.

1. Customer Service

• Bases planning on patient and staff feedback and projected needs.
• Establishes a customer-oriented culture and promotes hiring of persons who fit that culture.
• Actively identifies and encourages the implementation of best practices in customer service.
• Breaks barriers that impede good service delivery.
• Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently at the lowest level.
• Shares resources in order to service customers effectively and efficiently.

1. Quality Improvement

• Ensures the services’ ability to meet standards issued by various accrediting and regulatory groups and VA Central Office.
• Continuously assesses and improves the processes of the Education service.
• Directs the continuous measurement and improvement of the quality of the services provided through utilization of multiple quality measurement tools.
• Develops a high-reliability organization through direction of the continuous measurement and improvement of the quality of the services provided.

1. Research and Education

• Encourages continuing education for all personnel in the service and ensures compliance with performance standards.
• Creates a climate where continuous learning and self-development are valued.
• Encourages and supports research and education missions. Facilitates translation of research findings into improved patient outcomes.
• Board Member of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR)

1. Budget and Fiscal Management

• Responsible for the financial management including budget planning and management for Education and Learning Resources and Simulation.
• Develops the annual strategic and budget plan for the education program consistent with guidance and goals from the Director’s Office and/or Fiscal Service.
• Develops and implements tracking methods to monitor the service’s fiscal activities.
• Collaborates with other service chiefs in the development and execution of the overall Medical Center strategic and business plan.
• Plans initiatives and develops programs in collaboration with other services in order to ensure coordination of service, reduction of redundancies, and enhancement of cost effectiveness.
• Stays abreast of and educates staff about changing conditions in health care.
• Encourages and rewards risk-taking and entrepreneurial behavior. Encourages demonstration projects, pilots and other experimental approaches, which may lead to the development of alternative revenue streams and other gains in the organizational outcomes.

1. Organizational Stewardship

• Demonstrates commitment to the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center goals.
• Encourages an atmosphere of trust, psychological safety and empowerment by example.
• Manages relationships with academic affiliates and supporting services to maximize efficiency and drive highly reliable operations.
• Provides a clear vision of the future and leads the service through necessary changes.
• Demonstrates core values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence. Is guided by accountability and transparence.
• Models’ behavior, attitudes, and action expected of all staff.

1. Team Building

• Develops an interdisciplinary team of innovative, highly motivated individuals who are continuously striving for excellence in education, patient care, and customer service.
• Develops a team that is technically competent and understands the interrelationships of all the Health Care System services in achieving the mission.
• Develops a team that is creative in its efforts to build and maintain a cost- effective, integrated health care system.
• Develops collaborative relationships throughout the Health Care system, including active working relationships with the other service chiefs, in order to assure full support and coordination between the services.
• Shares the “big picture” with staff, encouraging them to use systems thinking and to see how they, as individuals, contribute to the Health Care System’s success.
• Breaks down barriers in the workplace in favor of high-performance work systems.
• Builds partnerships with the community to enhance the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center goals

1. Human Resources Management

• Responsible for assuring appropriate action in such matters as promotions, selections, rewards and recognition, training, and problem resolution.
• Responsible for development and implementation of competencies, providing opportunities for continuing education, peer review, career development and professional enrichment for subordinate employees.
• Maintains good labor-management relations with the unions to resolve personnel problems, proactively plan for changes to the work environment, and develop a high reliability workforce.
• Responds to changing priorities and resources with optimism, encouraging staff to respond positively and proactively.

1. Communications

• Demonstrates leadership in addressing ethical issues that impact clients and staff in/or beyond the organization/local health care community.
• Maintains privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient and client data.
• Protects patient and client data from unauthorized use, including research.
• Effectively communicates with employees, patients and their families, stake holders, the executive leadership team, VISN and VACO staff when required.
• Exhibits clear, honest and open communications in meetings and other interactions.
• Develops a network of redundant communication systems to ensure the availability of consultative or technical advice to meet the needs of the organization.
• Uses problem solving tools to plan and efficiently implement solutions through inclusion of those who are directly involved and/or impacted. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
• The incumbent is directly accountable to the Chief of Staff
• The incumbent works independently; supervision is mainly advisory in nature. The incumbent provides first line supervision to various administrative support staff.
• The incumbent is responsible for informing the Chief of Staff and/or the Medical Center Director of major problems and decisions in these areas.
• The incumbent receives assignments of a general nature from the Chief of Staff and/or Health Care System Director. Subsequent findings and recommendations are used by the Chief of Staff and/or Health Care System Director as the basis for his/her decision-making. Much of the incumbent’s responsibilities are self- initiated, such as identifying and correcting problems, and identifying ways of improving the efficiency of the services.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

The incumbent meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.

AGE, DEVELOPMENT and CULTURAL NEEDS of PATIENT REQUIREMENT

The age of the patients served ranges from 18 to 100 years. Considers age of the patient when providing care as it related to functional capacity/limitations, ability to understand and follow directions, provide objective self-assessment of past medical condition and treatment appropriate to the overall treatment goals and plans.

COMPUTER SECURITY REQUIREMENT

Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Protects this data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement that the incumbent signs.