Associate Chief of Primary Care (Quality, Research, and Education)

Quick Facts

• Role: Associate Chief of Primary Care (Quality, Research, and Education)

• Focus: quality, cost-effective patient-centered care, and primary care operations with an emphasis on education

• Key responsibilities: oversee primary care quality inspection, monitor access/referrals, and provide leadership and coverage for the Chief’s absence

Description

The Associate Chief ensures high quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care across Primary Care services to support the Medical Center’s mission. The incumbent oversees primary care clinic quality inspection activities (peer reviews, patient safety events, and patient complaints) and monitors primary care access, including women’s health services and community care referral from Primary Care. The role also participates in local, VISN, and national advisory/work groups and serves as a subject matter expert on primary care operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic services and appropriate therapeutic techniques to support quality patient care

• Conduct medical evaluations for a diverse patient population, including Veterans who may have mental illness and psychosocial issues

• Deliver therapeutic interventions and medication evaluation/management within the scope of clinical privileges

• Cover for the Chief of Primary Care in their absence and make administrative and clinical decisions as needed

• Provide supervisory oversight of assigned disciplines (advanced practice nurses, administrative staff, physicians, and others)

• Support leave approval, time and attendance, performance appraisals, and labor negotiations intervention

• Assess, plan, and evaluate primary care services to ensure care coordination across the overall health care delivery system

• Oversee implementation and maintenance of service processes to ensure compliance with performance standards

• Maintain an effective provider education system, including standardized orientation for all PACT providers

• Coordinate development of in-service programs for primary care and allied health staff

• Provide technical and informational support to health care practitioners

• Maintain an effective liaison with Human Resources management and use HR expertise when needed

Benefits

• EDRP authorized: education loan repayment reimbursement; submit application within 4 months. Approval, award up to $200,000, and eligibility period (1–5 years) are determined after review. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

• Recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants

• Paid time off: 50–55 days per year (26 annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)

• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions

• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options

• CME reimbursement possible ($1,000/year with full-time status and board certification)

• Malpractice: free liability protection with tail coverage

• Contract: no physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (non-citizens may be appointed only if recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible per VA policy)

• Current, full, unrestricted medical license in a U.S. state/territory/commonwealth or DC

• MD (or equivalent) degree from a VA-approved school

• Completed residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board certification eligibility

• English proficiency (spoken and written)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete VA online onboarding and pre-employment requirements; provide acceptable identification (REAL ID compliant effective May 7, 2025)

• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination

• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program

• EDRP eligibility requires submission within 4 months of start date (if applying); former EDRP participants are ineligible