Summary The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is seeking a Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff-Ambulatory Care Service) with leadership skills who can lead the current clinical services and team. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Responsibilities The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS), Ambulatory Care is responsible for leadership and oversight of the day to day operations of Primary Care and other programs as deemed appropriate for the Temple, Waco, Palestine, and Brownwood VA facilities. As a supervisory position, the ACOS provides clinical practice leadership in implementation of VA policies and procedures in Primary Care. Applies PACT principles to attain PACT performance measure goals to provide timely access and quality to care to Veterans in a patient centered fashion and to attain high patient satisfaction ratings (Performance Measures / SAIL/Encounters/unsigned/un-cosigned notes). Works collaboratively with other services supporting Patient Aligned Care Teams to include Nursing, Social Work, Mental Health, Pharmacy, and Dieticians. The ACOS brings leadership experience in building new clinic and procedure spaces and enhancing tele health. Establish a culture of quality and safety with these areas and ensure that quality, safety, timeliness, and appropriateness of care are continually monitored and evaluated in conjunction with facility strategic goals. Promote innovation, inspire organizational excellence, and engage the workforce. Priority initiatives include expansion of video encounters and creation of innovative strategies to meet the needs of Veterans patient care. Reviews applications and credentials for membership to the medical staff; interview prospective physicians and mid-level providers; implement and monitor in-house Continuing Professional Education (CPE) training; maintaining the provider specific folders of supervising Physicians and Mid-Levels, and evaluating patient care through an ongoing quality assurance program that identifies problems and their resolution. Monitors the clinical performance of individuals with clinical privileges, drug utilization evaluation, medical records reviews, performance of external services, patient satisfaction, patient complaints (Congressional, STDs, etc.) Participates in top level decisions that impact functional areas under his/her oversight through collaborations with Executive leadership. Responsible for consulting with other health care providers to provide training and mentoring and to be directly involved with the evaluation medically complex patient care problems. Participates in the planning, budgeting, and evaluation of the primary care programs. Participates in administrative, management, quality assurance, and other requirements activities, meetings, or committees as necessary or assigned. Provides direct clinical care either in person or by Telehealth. Clinical time 25%. Ensures Productivity Visit sites under supervision at least once every quarter. Leads Committees as determined by Chief of Staff. Works collaboratively with ACOS Ambulatory Care South on performance measures, SAIL, and system development and implementation. In doing so, both will ensure that practices within the System are uniform. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and may require to work on weekends and holidays. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. 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. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Degree of doctor of podiatric medicine, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensure or Registration. Applicants must possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice podiatry medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training. Podiatrists must have completed residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies are:(1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Primary Care leadership experience and excellent communication skills. Knowledge of regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, i.e. Joint Commission, OIG, etc. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-4 Podiatrist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable (at 13" to 16" to jaeger 1 to 4), far vision correctable ( in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other), hearing (aid permitted), emotional and mental stability, and clear speech. Education Applicants must possess a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. (1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.