Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS)

Baltimore, Maryland, The incumbent serves as the Chief for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and Perry Point VA Medical Center.  Serves as chief pathologist under the immediate supervision of the Chief of Staff. The incumbent provides direct oversight for all laboratory testing performed at the Medical Center and at sites of care where he/she serves as the Medical Director, including inpatient, outpatient and procedural services.  He/she will maintain licensure and credentials sufficient to extend to the authority to practice pathology within the following scope of practice:  Full range of Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation,
Urinalysis, Blood Banking, Immunology, Serology, Microbiology, Phlebotomy, and Anatomic Pathology which includes Surgical Pathology, Cytology, and Autopsy Services.  Testing not performed on site is provided by VA reference laboratories and private reference laboratories under contract.  The laboratory operates seven days per week.
Qualifications:

Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005)
Education: Medical Doctor (MD or DO) who is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.
Licensure: Active/current and unrestricted medical license of a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
Adherence to the Bylaws of the Baltimore and Perry Point VAMC.
Proficient communication skills in English (written and oral).
Maintains continuing education requirements for board certification and state medical licensure.

Functions/Responsibilities:
The responsibilities include hands on clinical work and shared oversight, administration, and supervision of all aspects of the service.  The Chief initiate overall changes in P&LMS, including shared responsibility for long range planning and planning for the full range of services.  This requires shared formulation and implementation of policies, procedures, standards, and goals for P&LMS that support the mission of the VA.  Responsibilities also include interpretation of surgical pathology and cytology cases, overall management of autopsy services, and supervision and interpretation related to the clinical laboratory.  Serves as the Medical Director at the Baltimore and Perry Point Laboratories.
Primary Responsibilities:
Leadership/Administration
Ensures that respective laboratories are in compliance with standards established by The Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists (CAP), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
Ensures written policies and procedures are developed in compliance with all applicable accrediting organizations and VHA program offices. Standards and requirements are reviewed and updated as necessary.
Organizes staff meetings and attends all Medical Center/VISN/VACO clinical and administrative meetings including but not limited to PSB/Peer Review, Executive Council of the Medical Staff Meeting (ECMS), and VISN 5 Diagnostic ICC monthly and quarterly meetings. Presents at all meetings as required.
Communicates effectively down to staff, across to other service Chiefs and up to leadership (ELT, VISN, VACO). Exhibits clear, honest and open communications in meetings and other interactions.
Provides responses to leadership regarding Environment of Care rounds, OIG inspections, quality and safety inspections, CAP/FDA/AABB/Joint Commission inspections and patient advocate/PATS inquiries.
Interacts with and serves as a consultant to providers to assist in making testing recommendations to aid providers in diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Ensures all staff are compliant with training requirements (TMS, BLS).
Coordinates and sends out special testing (Quest) and genetic testing (Salt Lake City VAMC). Ensures submissions for accuracy.  Ensures all outside test results are integrated into the electronic medical record.
Participates in administrative Peer Reviews.
Ensures leave, overtime and timecards are processed timely. Manages daily work and leave schedule of the pathologists.
Bases planning on patient and staff feedback and projected needs.
Plans the provision of services with a patient centered vision to enhance patient education and shared decision making.
Actively identifies and encourages the implementation of best practices.
Breaks barriers that impede good service delivery.
Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently at the lowest level.
Shares resources in order to service customers effectively and efficiently.
Anatomic Pathology
Provides direct oversight to the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory.
Makes fair and equitable work distribution with anatomic pathology duties, to include work schedules, leave, and call coverage.
May performs consultations (inpatient and outpatient) and interpretation of surgical pathology (including frozen sections) and cytology slides (as needed).
Ensures accurate anatomic pathology services (surgical pathology, cytology and autopsy) with turn-around-times that meet the reasonable expectations of the medical staff and accrediting agencies when adequately supported with necessary resources from administration and human resources. Turn-aroundtimes are monitored and reported in Performance Improvement meetings.
Manages autopsy services. Works with Decedent Affairs/HAS to ensure correct autopsy procedures, transport and final disposition.
Clinical Laboratory Testing
Approves test menu at respective sites of care (Medical Directorship) and collaborates on test menu changes.
Responsible for ensuring accurate testing menu with accreditation bodies.
Approves test method validation and implementation at respective sites of care.
Serves as a consultant/advisor to laboratory staff in all clinical areas to assist in proper lab procedures.
Is available to assist and guide laboratory staff and to provide technical/professional expertise in the event that issues arise.
Division of clinical pathology duties, including pathology reviews and review of monthly reports.
Ensures fair and equitable division of on-call schedules.
Coordination and integration of interdepartmental and intradepartmental services.
EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan reimbursement program.
Recruitment Incentive:  Relocation/Recruitment may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Pay:   Annual performance bonus and 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:   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.

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