Physician - Clinical Pathology Section Chief

Department of Veterans Affairs•Aurora, CO

47d•Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Section Chief, Chemistry and Toxicology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (VA ECHSC). Incumbent may travel between campuses (CBOC) to perform duties and supervision, but the actual duty station will be at the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC. This position is not supervisory. This position has been authorized for a recruitment incentive. MAJOR DUTIES: CALL AND COVERAGE ASSIGNMENT: The Pathologists are on a regular rotational schedule to take call for Clinical Pathology. In addition, the Service Section Chief will always be reachable during call as agreed upon with chief, PLMS, unless on personal leave, at which time he/she will appoint a designee to provide coverage. This position is not supervisory. The role of the P&LMS physician may also include but shall not be limited to the following: Contributes to the operation of effective and safe laboratories that are in compliance with standards established by the College of American Pathology (CAP), the Joint Commission (TJC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), VACO, and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). Ensures accurate clinical laboratory test results with turn-around-times (TAT) that meet the reasonable and possible expectations of the Medical staff and accrediting agencies, when adequately supported with necessary resources from administration and human resources. Performance of the clinical laboratory is monitored continuously and results recorded in the Quality Assurance (QA) minutes. The Section Chief, Chemistry and Toxicology selects the analytical methods and instruments used for testing in his/her area of responsibilities, currently including automated and manual chemistry, immunochemistry, electrophoresis, blood gases, automated urinalysis, urine microscopy, Hgb A1c testing, vitamin D analysis by LC - tandem mass spectrometry, urine drugs of abuse screening by immunoassay and urine drugs of abuse confirmation by LC- tandem mass spectrometry. Additional sections under the medical directorship of the Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology are Point of Care testing (POCT), phlebotomy, accessioning and sendout (fee basis) testing. The Section Chief directs performance of required method validation studies according to regulatory requirements for all methods in his/her section and documents the results of those studies as required. He/she accepts all new analytical methods and testing instruments for clinical use. He also develops with the section technical supervisor the necessary policies and procedures for his sections. He/she approves policies and procedures along with the necessary training checklists for all sections under his directorship. He/she is responsible for quality control, quality assurance and proficiency testing in his sections. The Section Chief develops corrective action as needed, based on the findings of these activities. The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology is responsible for Point of Care testing (POCT) at the ECHCS and works with the POCT Coordinator to assure availability of POCT for clinical use. He/she is responsible for regulatory compliance for all POCT at ECHCS, including the VA Hospital and CBOCs. The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology also serves as the medical director of phlebotomy, accessioning and send out (fee basis) sections of the laboratory. The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology serves as the Course Director for the Chemistry rotation for pathology residents at Denver VA. In this role, he/she develops and presents Clinical Chemistry lectures to residents on his rotation and supervises residents while on the service. Promotes an effective, balanced relationship with academic affiliates that results in a joint and mutually advantageous partnership. Ensures communication and coordination between the laboratory services and the clinical services. Participates in the Laboratory Quality Improvement (QI) Plan in collaboration with the VA ECHCS program, addressing appropriate and practical QI needs as indicated by accreditation, internal and external sources. Serves a PLMS- Clinical services Liaison.

Requirements

1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Responsibilities

CALL AND COVERAGE ASSIGNMENT: The Pathologists are on a regular rotational schedule to take call for Clinical Pathology. In addition, the Service Section Chief will always be reachable during call as agreed upon with chief, PLMS, unless on personal leave, at which time he/she will appoint a designee to provide coverage.
Contributes to the operation of effective and safe laboratories that are in compliance with standards established by the College of American Pathology (CAP), the Joint Commission (TJC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), VACO, and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
Ensures accurate clinical laboratory test results with turn-around-times (TAT) that meet the reasonable and possible expectations of the Medical staff and accrediting agencies, when adequately supported with necessary resources from administration and human resources. Performance of the clinical laboratory is monitored continuously and results recorded in the Quality Assurance (QA) minutes.
The Section Chief, Chemistry and Toxicology selects the analytical methods and instruments used for testing in his/her area of responsibilities, currently including automated and manual chemistry, immunochemistry, electrophoresis, blood gases, automated urinalysis, urine microscopy, Hgb A1c testing, vitamin D analysis by LC - tandem mass spectrometry, urine drugs of abuse screening by immunoassay and urine drugs of abuse confirmation by LC- tandem mass spectrometry. Additional sections under the medical directorship of the Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology are Point of Care testing (POCT), phlebotomy, accessioning and sendout (fee basis) testing.
The Section Chief directs performance of required method validation studies according to regulatory requirements for all methods in his/her section and documents the results of those studies as required. He/she accepts all new analytical methods and testing instruments for clinical use. He also develops with the section technical supervisor the necessary policies and procedures for his sections. He/she approves policies and procedures along with the necessary training checklists for all sections under his directorship.
He/she is responsible for quality control, quality assurance and proficiency testing in his sections. The Section Chief develops corrective action as needed, based on the findings of these activities.
The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology is responsible for Point of Care testing (POCT) at the ECHCS and works with the POCT Coordinator to assure availability of POCT for clinical use. He/she is responsible for regulatory compliance for all POCT at ECHCS, including the VA Hospital and CBOCs.
The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology also serves as the medical director of phlebotomy, accessioning and send out (fee basis) sections of the laboratory.
The Section Chief, Chemistry, Toxicology serves as the Course Director for the Chemistry rotation for pathology residents at Denver VA. In this role, he/she develops and presents Clinical Chemistry lectures to residents on his rotation and supervises residents while on the service.
Promotes an effective, balanced relationship with academic affiliates that results in a joint and mutually advantageous partnership. Ensures communication and coordination between the laboratory services and the clinical services.
Participates in the Laboratory Quality Improvement (QI) Plan in collaboration with the VA ECHCS program, addressing appropriate and practical QI needs as indicated by accreditation, internal and external sources. Serves a PLMS- Clinical services Liaison.

Benefits

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidates
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)
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

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