Physician - Assistant Chief, Southern Tier (Stockton)

Veterans Health Administration • Stockton, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant ACOS (AACOS) for the Southern Tier clinics serves as a practicing physician responsible for the overall management of patients receiving healthcare services through the Northern California VA Health Care System (NCHCS). The AACOS also performs administrative duties associated with clinic operations across the Southern Tier clinics, which include Martinez, Fairfield, Mare Island, Stockton, Sonora, and Modesto.

The position allocates approximately 30–50% of time to clinical care, 30–50% to assigned administrative responsibilities, and 0–20% to resident or medical student teaching as assigned. Clinical duties include evaluating and treating acute and chronic health problems, performing histories and physical examinations, documenting diagnoses and care plans, performing procedures within approved privileges, prescribing medications, ordering and initially interpreting tests, communicating results, arranging consultations, and screening patients for hospitalization. The physician also ensures patients receive clear follow-up and disposition information.

Administrative responsibilities include clinic staffing and human-capital management, strategic planning, regulatory survey preparation, monitoring practice standards, supporting clinical innovation, and coordinating healthcare delivery and business planning. The AACOS advises the ACOS and Deputy ACOS, Primary Care Services, establishes communication mechanisms throughout NCHCS, and represents clinic interests in clinical committees. The physician may also precept residents in the clinic setting as assigned.

This full-time position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; the potential award is up to $200,000 over one to five years. A recruitment incentive is authorized. The position does not require a Physician Employment Contract, and there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved and 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 an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Board certified or board eligible in internal medicine or family medicine.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Compliance with pre-employment drug testing, background and security investigation, physical evaluation, TB testing, immunization evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Completion of the required online onboarding and application documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Physician experience in primary care, internal medicine, or family medicine.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care and manage patients enrolled for healthcare services at the Southern Tier clinics.
• Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled patients.
• Perform patient histories and physical examinations and document findings, diagnoses, definitive care plans, and dispositions.
• Ensure patients are appropriately closed out with clear next steps, current medication lists, and appointment lists.
• Perform office procedures within approved privileges and prescribe medications as appropriate.
• Order routine laboratory, radiological, and diagnostic tests; provide initial interpretation and communicate results to patients.
• Initiate and expedite consultation and special-test requests, and screen patients to determine the need for hospitalization.
• Manage human capital and ensure efficient staffing models that enhance clinic access and maximize efficiency.
• Plan for future clinic staffing needs across represented disciplines.
• Prepare for Joint Commission and other regulatory surveys and monitor compliance with standards of practice.
• Coordinate strategic healthcare-delivery planning with business planning to support quality and efficiency.
• Advise the ACOS and Deputy ACOS, Primary Care Services, on developing an integrated healthcare delivery system at the Southern Tier clinics.
• Establish ongoing mechanisms for open communication throughout NCHCS.
• Encourage clinical innovation and facilitate recruitment and retention of high-quality clinical staff.
• Represent clinic interests and concerns in NCHCS clinical committees.
• Serve as a role model to peers and apply applicable collective bargaining agreements when initiating, authorizing, and completing disciplinary action.
• Provide patient and family education as necessary.
• Precept residents in the clinic setting as assigned by NCHCS.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, with a potential award of up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and approval.
• Authorized recruitment incentive (sign-on bonus).
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance.
• Possible CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year for eligible full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

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