Physician Informaticist

Wallops Island, Virginia, Virginia, The Physician Informaticist position is located within the VHA Office of Health Informatics (OHI), Clinical Informatics and Data Management Office (CIDMO), Informatics Patient Safety (IPS) Division. The position reports to the Director of IPS. The incumbent serves as Veterans Health Administration’s subject matter and policy expert on foundational methods and capabilities to support patient safety and health information systems for the delivery of healthcare services. 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.

Preferred Experience: Expert knowledge of health informatics, human-computer interaction, or related fields as it applies to Health IT patient safety. Experience leading translation and development of best analytical practices for the construction of surveillance methodology specific to patient safety. Experience supporting the development, deployment, implementation and sustainment efforts associated with Health Information Systems to include Electronic Health Record and VHA Modernization efforts. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature. [“The incumbent serves as Veterans Health Administration’s subject matter and policy expert on foundational methods and capabilities to support patient safety and health information systems for the delivery of healthcare services. The aim of clinical informatics is to improve health care delivery processes and outcomes through effective use of information and knowledge. Physician Informaticists use their knowledge of patient care combined with their understanding of informatics concepts, methods, and tools to assess information and knowledge needs of health care professionals and patients; characterize, evaluate, and refine clinical processes; develop, implement, and refine electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support systems; and lead or participate in the procurement, customization, implementation, management, evaluation, and continuous improvement of clinical information systems. To be successful, the incumbent will use skills, experience, and knowledge in leadership, informatics, and clinical care to collaborate with clinicians, researchers, educators, technical staff, and administrators in other VA Central Office programs, VA field facilities, other federal agencies, and the private sector.

Staff in IPS work with informaticians, data scientist, and analysts in other CIDMO divisions and VA offices. Because VA partners with the nation’s leading academic healthcare and research institutions, this position offer potent opportunities for collaboration and innovation with leading informaticists. Practice is of an executive nature, comprised of complex managerial, administrative and technical components, associated with enterprise data analysis, electronic medical records and activities that influence the organizational mission, health care, and policy. Provides input to the IPS Leadership concerning clinical informatics matters and priorities with emphasis on the strategic level. Develops effective relationships with key clinical leaders and program offices to ensure they promote the mission of IPS which best meet their needs. Leads translation and development of evidence-based methodologies for the measurement and monitoring of safe use for health information technology. Leads translation and development of best analytical practices for the construction of surveillance methodology specific to patient safety. Develops strategies for obtaining and assessing evidence for safer healthcare resulting from use of clinical information systems and associated functional processes. Engages in mutually beneficial collaborations with partners in the Department of Defense (DoD), other government agencies, industry organizations, professional associations, standards organizations, academic affiliates and other healthcare systems. Facilitates informatics research and implementation science in VA.

Develops and manages coordinated research partnerships with appropriate operational, academic, research, quality improvement, and program offices across the enterprise, industry, government, and public sectors. Facilitates and participates in appropriate health service and clinical research within VHA. Works as a clinical champion to maximize the impact of health informatics services to improve patient outcomes in VHA. Acts as a liaison and advocates for the enterprise to understand and meet the informatics needs of the stakeholders including the end users. Ensures that clinical practice, health care delivery, and informatics issues are all considered as part of collaborative ventures. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm”]

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