Employee Occupational Health Section Chief- Physician

Veterans Health Administration • Minneapolis, MN

6d

About The Position

The Employee Occupational Health (EOH) Section Chief serves as the Agency Medical Officer and is responsible for consistently applying medical decisions and policies for the facility’s EOH Program. The Section Chief ensures EOH professionals have adequate equipment, staffing, and supplies to operate an effective program that helps promote a safe and healthy workforce.

The role provides clinical services focused on pre-placement and administrative medical examinations, health and workability assessments after work-related injuries, prevention of illness and injury, and protection from occupational and environmental hazards. The Section Chief supervises other EOH providers, collaborates with employees and departments, and supports safe patient care and workforce health. Occasional ad-hoc teleworking may be available to maintain continuity of operations. Infrequent travel to other Minneapolis VA Healthcare System locations, including community-based outpatient clinics, may be required.

The position’s stated work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. VA describes a total rewards package that includes competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, paid leave, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. No physician employment contract or significant restriction on moonlighting is specified.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or another qualifying training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Selected applicants must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use, a background/security investigation, and the online onboarding process.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements listed in the Required Documents section.
• Employees in a testing-designated position must submit to pre-appointment drug screening; refusal results in denial of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Medical Review Officer (MRO) certification is preferred.
• Education and/or experience in occupational medicine, including occupational disease and injury management, epidemiology, toxicology, and preventive medicine.

Responsibilities

• Supervise other providers in the Employee Occupational Health section.
• Complete applicant onboarding examinations to assess applicants’ physical, cognitive, and emotional fitness for appointment.
• Complete periodic examinations for employees, including boiler plant workers, police officers, and drivers.
• Provide evidence-based clinical evaluations and initial treatment for occupational injuries and illnesses, and ongoing care and rehabilitation when selected as the provider of choice.
• Liaise with Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Safety departments regarding workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Determine whether employees can safely return to work or resume regular duties after injury or illness.
• Manage bloodborne pathogen exposures as part of the Employee Occupational Health Team.
• Assess employee safety when a supervisor requests a voluntary impairment assessment.
• Assess the safety of employees expressing thoughts of self-harm.
• Perform fitness-for-duty examinations at the request of Human Resources.
• Recognize potential chemical, physical, and biological environmental causes of health concerns.
• Refer employees promptly to their personal health care providers when abnormal findings or test results indicate a need for evaluation or treatment of nonoccupational conditions.
• Review and administer medical surveillance requirements for employees exposed to specific workplace hazards.
• Assist employees with health promotion and disease prevention.
• Verify Medical Review Officer results for pre-placement, random, and other HR-requested drug screens.
• Remain current on local, regional, and national occupational and employee health policies, handbooks, directives, and safety standards.
• Triage and use a collaborative team approach to identify, analyze, and resolve patient care problems, including facilitating referral to a higher level of care when indicated.
• Collaborate with health care professionals, departments, management, and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes.
• Comply with infection control guidelines.
• Maintain skills in prevention and management of disruptive behavior; training may be provided upon hire.
• Participate in High Reliability Organization and professional governance initiatives.
• Travel infrequently to other Minneapolis VA Healthcare System locations, such as community-based outpatient clinics.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree