Summary

The Designated Education Officer (DEO) is frequently known as the Associate Chief of Staff for Education (ACOS-E) is the designated VAMC employee who has oversight responsibility for all health professions training at the VAMC. The DEO receives guidance on Health Professions Education (HPE) program requirements from the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

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
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in 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
• (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Must be board certified
• Preferred Experience: Previous experience with ACGME and office of academic affiliations and residency training programs
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position may involve standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
• The work may involve going up and down flights of stairs.

Duties

• The DEO is responsible for establishing - maintaining - and evaluating the quality of health professions training programs and the quality of care delivered by trainees at the VA facility
• The position provides direction and oversight of the HPE service and education support for a full spectrum of paid and without compensation (WOC) HPTs and others associated with a complex healthcare system - which includes employees - upper-level facility management - affiliate schools - and HPTs
• The position provides a wide range of program management and administrative duties supporting the HPE programs
• HPT academic levels include undergraduate - graduate - and post-graduate students - externs - interns - residents - fellows - and VA advanced fellows
• and pre- and post-doctoral fellows
• Educational programs supported may include medical and dental - associated health - nursing - advanced fellows and limited nonclinical programs
• The DEO provides leadership - advice - and subject matter expertise in tasks - projects - and assignments related to HPE programs
• Provides policy development - analysis - decision making - and implementation activities affecting the VA health care system
• Responsibilities and duties are described in VHA Directives (OAA 1400 series) and summarized below
• Oversees all functions related to the administration of HPE funding - accreditation - appointment process - and affiliate relationships in accordance with VHA OAA directives - handbooks - policies - memos - and notices
• The Joint Commission Standards
• and accreditation standards for multiple health professions
• Provides oversight to identify - evaluate - and mitigate risk of injury to HPTs - patients - staff and visitors in collaboration with facility Occupational Health and Patient Safety
• Reviews and ensures that minimal qualifications and credentials are met by HPTs coming to VA for academic programs as attested to by the Trainee Qualifications Certification Verification Letter (TQCVL)
• Interacts with affiliated institutions as appropriate on matters pertaining to HPT assignments and curricula and on evaluation of the VA medical facility as a training site
• Acts as a consultant to other VA medical facility staff on educational matters and interpreting policies according to VA requirements
• provides comprehensive support to residency and training program and site directors
• Acts as the liaison with the sponsoring institution's Designated Institution Officer (DIO) and other education leaders in the academic programs of education and research
• Advocates for sufficient VA resources for appropriate management of HPE programs
• Exercises oversight and administration of all clinical training programs at the VA medical facility and ensures compliance with all pertinent requirements and program accreditation standards
• This oversight responsibility includes fiscal matters - affiliation and disbursement agreements - programmatic accreditation - credentials of HPTs - appointment - and payment of HPT stipends
• Establishes local procedures for Educational Activity Record (EAR) keeping and disbursement including training - reconcile invoices - submitting rate schedules and reimbursing affiliates in a timely manner
• Works closely with OAA to expand programs - collect and report data - and obtain guidance for unusual circumstances
• Assigns work to staff in the HPE service
• Other duties as assigned
• The DEO reports directly to the facility COS who reports to the VAMC Director
• The DEO is a senior VA medical facility leader who must have protected non-clinical time to perform the duties of the DEO
• The DEO may supervise other administrative support and clinical positions within the HPE Office
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available to highly qualified candidates Relocation Incentive: Available to eligible 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) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory 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 Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM