Physician - Primary Care Clinic Director

Veterans Health Administration • Tomball, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This physician position is based at a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) and combines primary care practice with clinical and administrative leadership. The Clinic Director reports to the CBOC Executive and provides clinical practice leadership in implementing MEDVAMC policies and procedures and applying PACT principles to support timely access, quality care, and patient satisfaction for Veterans.

Clinical duties include conducting initial and periodic histories and physical examinations; screening outpatients for further healthcare needs; ordering diagnostic studies; carrying out health promotion and disease prevention; initiating consultations and scheduling tests; and educating and counseling patients and families. The physician also completes patient-management documentation and communications, including charting, progress notes, consults, referrals, and telephone consultations with Medical Center specialists. The role integrates mandated health screenings and treatment guidelines into clinical practice and requires proficiency with, or willingness to learn, VA’s Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).

Administrative and leadership responsibilities include planning, organizing, and coordinating CBOC clinical and interdisciplinary programs; keeping MEDVAMC management informed of issues and operations; providing day-to-day supervision of clinical staff; and participating in performance appraisals for clinical staff and nonclinical supervisors. The Clinic Director serves on the MEDVAMC leadership team and may serve on other committees. The position monitors care quality and appropriateness, supports compliance with clinical practice guidelines and Medical Staff bylaws and policies, and provides an environment supportive of education, training, and research for health professionals. Additional duties include coordinating patient care, supporting budgetary efficiency and performance goals, developing programs and strategic plans, implementing clinical guidelines and practice patterns, monitoring strategic initiatives, measuring care-service outcomes, and ensuring CBOC safety and environmental standards.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may include extended hours and some Saturdays. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility, application, and program approval. Potential EDRP awards are up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Compensation and benefits described include competitive salary, an annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid leave, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice coverage with tail coverage.

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 training program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an allowed alternative involving qualifying training and independent practice.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn VA’s Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Primary care experience with leadership in an outpatient setting.
• Experience working within the PACT model.
• Board certification or board-certification eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial and periodic histories and physical examinations.
• Screen outpatients to determine whether further healthcare is needed.
• Order diagnostic studies, including laboratory tests, X-rays, and electrocardiograms.
• Carry out health promotion and disease-prevention activities.
• Initiate and expedite consultation requests and schedule special tests and studies.
• Educate and counsel patients and families about preventive care, medical conditions, and prescribed treatments and drugs.
• Complete patient-management documentation and communications, including charting, progress notes, signatures, consults, referrals, and telephone consultations with Medical Center specialists.
• Integrate mandated health screenings and treatment guidelines into clinical practice.
• Provide clinical practice leadership in implementing MEDVAMC policies and procedures and applying PACT principles to support timely access, quality care, and patient satisfaction.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate CBOC clinical and interdisciplinary programs through teamwork.
• Keep MEDVAMC management informed of issues and CBOC operations, and provide timely reports to superiors.
• Lead CBOC programs and carry out administrative and patient-care functions in accordance with MEDVAMC and Veterans Health Administration policies and procedures.
• Provide day-to-day supervision of CBOC clinical staff and participate in performance appraisals for clinical staff and nonclinical supervisors.
• Serve on the MEDVAMC leadership team and potentially on other committees.
• Monitor the quality and appropriateness of care and ensure compliance with clinical practice guidelines.
• Support education, training, and research for healthcare professionals.
• Enforce MEDVAMC policies, rules, and regulations and Medical Staff bylaws and regulations within the CBOC.
• Coordinate patient care; support budgetary efficiency and performance goals; develop programs and strategic plans; implement clinical guidelines and practice patterns; monitor strategic initiatives; and measure care-service outcomes.
• Ensure safety and environmental standards for the CBOC.
• Serve as a resource for healthcare standards development related to quality improvement concerns.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with potential awards up to $200,000.
• 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, 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 for full-time physicians with board certification.
• 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