Summary

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Service (P&LS) at the Manchester New Hampshire VA Healthcare System is now soliciting applications for the position of Service Line Chief. This is a physician position that will be responsible for the oversight of the full scope of Pathology and Laboratory Services.

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 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) 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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment - you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted

Duties

• 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
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized On Call: There is no on call requirement for this position
• Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday The Manchester VA Medical Center Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) oversees the clinical and administrative responsibilities within the PLMS
• Pathologists working in the Department of PLMS must be Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• The Chief will perform the following Core tasks: Directly or indirectly - supervises all individuals on PLMS
• Completes - or supervises completion of - interim and annual performance appraisals on all individuals on the PLMS ORG chart
• Participates in the new employee Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) process - and in the Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) process
• Participates in the FPPE-for-cause process if required
• Completes - or supervises completion of - new employee FPPEs - OPPEs and FPPE-for -cause) on all physicians on the PLMS ORG chart
• Serves as Chair of the Tissue and Transfusion Quality Review Committee
• Maintains familiarity with and understanding of the VA directives and rules regarding pathological analysis of tissue specimens as well as those related to operation of blood and specimen testing laboratories - blood banking - microbiology - and associated disciplines - plus all safety requirements related to PLMS
• Organizes quality assessment and quality improvement initiatives including but not limited to a 10% retrospective review of all anatomic pathology cases
• Participates in facility Quality Management activities
• Performs and directs others who perform coding of surgical reports with CPT and SNOMED codes
• Participates in VISN1 Pathology Group activities - reporting critical incidents and other required information to the VISN Chief Pathology Consultant
• Organizes and chairs monthly Pathology Staff meetings and attends all committees and meetings as required by VHA and VISN counterparts
• Participates in facility High Reliability Organization (HRO) activities
• Participates in selected committees as designated by the Chief of Staff /Deputy Chief of Staff (e.g
• Peer Review Committee - Electronic Health Records Committee - Medical Executive Council - etc.)
• Monitors and manages timely PLMS test result reporting
• Focuses efforts of entire PLMS staff to provide highest possible quality service at all times
• Ensures that all pathology tissue reporting is completed timely with results communicated accurately and timely based on Directive and clinical compelling nature
• Adheres to the Medical Staff Bylaws - policies - procedures - and SOPs of this facility
• Cooperates with other members of the medical staff to achieve high quality whole-health patient care
• Participates in academic activities and presentations - both within and outside the medical center
• Reports outcomes that he/she believes did not meet acceptable standards to the Chief of Staff / Deputy Chief of Staff
• Participates in education and training of pathology residents - medical students - and staff - as applicable
• Participates as requested in the facility Peer Review process
• Participates in completion of physician Pay-for-Performance awards by developing specialty ­specific metrics - sharing metrics at initiation of the performance period - and compiling results at completion of the performance period
• Provides consultative pathologic services consistent with the ambulatory status of the Manchester VAMC
• Maintains privileges at our collaborating White River Junction VA Medical Center (WRJVAMC) and will be expected to provide cross-coverage with WRJVAMC pathologists in a collaborative - mutually supportive manner based on the established MOU
• May be required to provide a limited amount of after-hours coverage related to the WRJVAMC MOU
• Maintains BLS certification
• Maintains an active medical license in the United States Acquires CMEs and participates in MOC as required by the individual's specialty board.