Physician (Psychiatry) - Chief of Psychiatry

Veterans Health Administration•Prescott, AZ

18h•Remote

About The Position

This is a virtual position, but not a remote role. The selected candidate must live within 50 miles of a VA Medical Center, VA facility, or VA-leased space, and will report for duty at their nearest VHA location. Duty Location of VA Northern Arizona Health Care System is preferred. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for a virtual duty location. A final virtual job offer requires meeting the 50-mile residency requirement and obtaining approval to work at a VA facility. The VA Northern Arizona Healthcare System is a leading healthcare system serving Veterans in the VA Desert Pacific Network and is an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 (VISN 22).

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated leadership experience in managing psychiatric services within a multidisciplinary healthcare setting, including oversight of clinical operations, staff supervision, and program development.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with medical directors, nursing leadership, and allied health professionals to ensure high-quality patient care and compliance with regulatory standards.
Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based psychiatric treatment protocols and quality improvement initiatives.
Familiarity with VA or similar healthcare systems, including knowledge of hybrid Title 38 occupational standards and relevant federal regulations.
Successful track record in recruiting, mentoring, and retaining clinical staff, fostering a positive work environment, and promoting professional development.
Expertise in managing complex patient populations, including those with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring medical conditions.
Experience with electronic health records, clinical documentation, and data-driven decision-making to support patient care and operational efficiency.
Ability to lead and participate in interdisciplinary committees, workgroups, and performance improvement projects.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to represent the Psychiatry Section in internal and external forums.

Responsibilities

Manages all professional, clinical and administrative activities within the Psychiatry Section, MHBS including selection, orientation, and continuing education of staff.
Assures that all Psychiatric staff receive education on assessing and managing pain.
Monitors and evaluates the quality of care provided in the Psychiatry Section, including access, efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of care and treatment of patients served by the SL and the clinical/professional performance of all individuals in the Psychiatry Section.
Assures that individuals in the Psychiatry Section with clinical privileges competently provide service within the scope of privileges granted.
Recommends to the Medical Executive Board the criteria for clinical privileges that are relevant to the care provided in the Psychiatry Section.
Recommends appointment and clinical privileges for each medical staff member of the Psychiatry Section.
Reviews Psychiatry provider performance improvement activities and data as part of the renewal of privileges/scope of practice.
Develops and implements procedures that guide & support the provision of care, treatment & services within the Psychiatry Section.
Conducts continuous assessment and improvement of the quality of care, treatment, and services within the Psychiatry Section.
Reviews appropriate supply and demand data within individual Psychiatry clinics via a variety of reports.
Pulls and reviews reports related to Psychiatry provider clinic utilization as mapped to the assigned MCA DSS labor report; ensuring maximum use of provider time to accommodate patient care needs and balance supply & demand based on variation to the system.
Develops backlog reduction plans for the Psychiatry Section when delays occur.
Assists the Mental Health Programs Manager in developing and executing a viable contingency plan policy & process within the Psychiatry Section.
Promotes and enforces compliance with access targets, measures, metrics, policies, etc. withing the Psychiatry Section.
Reviews Psychiatry clinic profiles on a regular basis & updating as appropriate.

Benefits

Competitive salary
Annual performance bonus
Regular salary increases
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)
Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
No Physician Employment Contract
No significant restriction on moonlighting
Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement for CME (must be full-time with board certification)