Physician - Hospitalist Section Chief

Veterans Health Administration•Wilmington, DE

21h

About The Position

The Hospitalist Section Chief is accountable to the Chief of the Medicine Service for effective delivery of inpatient medical care and compliance with applicable standards. The physician provides expert care to hospitalized patients, including those on medical-surgical wards and in the Intensive Care Unit, and provides patient and family education. The role also includes evaluating patients for other services, including the long-term care unit and emergency department, and completing administrative duties as assigned. The physician is expected to provide compassionate, appropriate, and effective care; maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and healthcare team members; follow policies; document clinical care promptly; and coordinate treatment plans with inpatient and outpatient providers. Administrative duties account for 20% of the position. The Section Chief leads the Hospitalist Section and ensures operations and compliance with Veterans Health Administration guidelines. Responsibilities include managing employee schedules and call coverage, holding at least monthly section meetings, allocating resources to maintain clinical program coverage, and directing quality-improvement processes and projects. The incumbent attends staff meetings and works with facility leadership on staff evaluations and training requirements. Clinical duties account for 80% of the position. The physician must remain privileged in Internal/Hospitalist Medicine, with specific privileges and standards procedures approved by the Professional Standards Board. Clinical work includes daily patient-care rounds and supervision of medical staff duties; reviewing the electronic medical record and determining care plans for hospitalized patients; managing transfers and discharges; running rapid response teams and Code Blues; and collaborating with other hospital sections. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid leave, federal retirement and insurance programs, and other benefits. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Requirements

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited school.
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 eligibility for board certification, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Must remain privileged in Internal/Hospitalist Medicine; privileges and standards procedures are approved by the Professional Standards Board.
U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Preferred experience used for interview selection: 3–5 years of hospitalist experience and more than 1 year of leadership or supervisory experience.
Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
May be required to serve a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

Board certification where required by supervisory, academic faculty, or specific VHA policy circumstances.
Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.

Responsibilities

Lead the Hospitalist Section and ensure operations and compliance with Veterans Health Administration guidelines.
Manage employee schedules and ensure consistent, current call-schedule coverage and posting.
Hold at least monthly section meetings and attend required weekly and monthly staff meetings.
Allocate resources to ensure adequate coverage and availability of clinical programs.
Direct and develop quality-improvement processes and projects.
Work with facility leadership on evaluations and training requirements for assigned staff.
Provide inpatient medical care, including care for patients on medical-surgical wards and in the Intensive Care Unit.
Provide patient and family education and compassionate, appropriate, effective care.
Evaluate patients for other services, including the long-term care unit and emergency department.
Maintain timely clinical documentation, including admission histories and physicals, daily progress notes, and discharge summaries.
Coordinate and communicate treatment plans with inpatient and outpatient healthcare providers.
Conduct daily patient-care rounds while supervising medical staff duties.
Review electronic medical records and determine care plans for hospitalized patients.
Manage patient transfers and discharges.
Run rapid response teams and Code Blues.
Collaborate with other hospital sections on patient care.
Perform administrative functions and other tasks assigned by the Chief of the Medicine Service.

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 paid federal holidays, and possible five-day paid absence for CME.
Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
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, subject to full-time status and board certification.
Free liability protection with tail coverage.
Recruitment or sign-on incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Relocation assistance may be authorized.
No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.