Primary Care Contingency Operations (Float) Section Chief

Summary

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.

Duties

• This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Eligible applicants will be referred for consideration until a selection is made. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidates. EDRP Authorized: 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) and 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 are ineligible to apply. 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 As the Float Section Chief, the incumbent assumes responsibility for overseeing clinical operations and provider coverage across all clinical locations within the healthcare system. The overall responsibilities of the Section Chief of Primary Care but not limited to: Oversees clinical operations and provider coverage across all Primary Care sites within the healthcare system, including the main medical center, CBOCs, and Lee County Healthcare Center. Serves as primary point of contact for urgent provider coverage needs, ensuring continuity of care during staff absences, vacancies, and surges in patient demand. Exercises direct supervisory responsibility over Float and Fee Basis providers. Primary focus of clinical practice is the independent clinical evaluation of veterans through their panel of patients including prevention and patient self-management. Comprehensive primary care will be provided to Veterans. Responsible for referral to management of clinical concerns that are found during patient evaluations. Collaborating with clinical and administrative support to provide timely, quality, coordinated care throughout the BPVAHCS. Functions as a member of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), collaborating with clinical and administrative support to provide timely, quality, coordinated care for Veterans. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff. Acts as supervising and/or collaborating physician to assigned physicians and NP/PAs. Provides and promotes the full spectrum of primary care medicine services to our referral population of over 100,000 Veterans and 4000 employees as applicable to section responsibility. Provides leadership in the operations Bay Pines VAMC, including staff training, education, scheduling, and coordination of care within the multi-disciplinary health teams. Plays a key role in maintaining primary care operations day to day as well as reviews, tracks, and evaluates quality improvement initiatives related to Primary Care Operations. Acts as liaison between section leadership, providers, and administrative staff to address operational and clinical coverage challenges, to enhance patient care delivery. Develops and/or reviews protocols, order sets, clinical reminders, and note templates. Serves as a member of the Process & Implementation team. Coordinates education of clinical staff, including but not limited to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, RNs, LPN and health care technicians in the theory, practice, and implementation of comprehensive health care for veterans across all CWBY Bay Pines VA primary care sites. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in clinical care and the theory, evidence base and implementation. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday and some Saturdays (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The employee may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Telework: Not Available

Requirements

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 evaluation/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.

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.