Physician - Psychiatrist - Service Chief

This position oversees the Mental Health services throughout the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS). The Mental Health & Behavioral Health Sciences (MH&BS) Service Line Manager reports to the Chief of Staff. The MH&BS service line manager will supervisor the managers within the MH&BS service line. The MH&BS manager will manage human and material resources and a variety of mental health programs. This position supports the overall functioning of MH&BS. 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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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. Exceptions: 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 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. In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Experience providing leadership and oversight for all professional and administrative operations within a Mental Health or Behavioral Health service line, including supervision of multidisciplinary clinical and administrative staff. Demonstrated success in managing human and material resources across a complex mental health continuum, including outpatient, specialty, and integrated care programs. Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, procedures, and clinical care standards to ensure high-quality, safe, and efficient care delivery. Experience conducting ongoing surveillance and evaluation of clinical performance, including quality of care, appropriateness of treatment, adherence to standards, and performance improvement activities. Skill in leading quality control programs, risk management activities, infection control oversight, and compliance with facility-wide performance measures. Demonstrated ability to improve patient access, flow, timeliness, and satisfaction through data-driven process improvement. Experience in advanced clinic access management, including monitoring supply and demand, clinic utilization, backlog reduction, no-show reduction strategies, and appointment optimization. Expertise in consult management processes, including consult review, business rule implementation, coordination with internal/external services, and development of Care Coordination Agreements. Prior experience recommending and evaluating criteria for clinical privileges, and monitoring clinical competence of licensed independent practitioners. Proven ability to oversee professional performance reviews, including FPPE/OPPE, peer review, and performance improvement data integration. Experience coordinating interdepartmental and intradepartmental services to ensure integrated, Veteran-centered mental health care delivery across settings (e.g., PC, ED, acute care, community care). Demonstrated ability to collaborate with system partners (e.g., PCMM, MCA DSS, Group Practice Management, Community Care) to optimize operations and resource utilization. Experience planning, developing, and leading new or expanded clinical programs, including Telehealth, evidence-based practice implementation, and enhancement of specialty/complexity of care offerings. Ability to analyze financial, workflow, and operational impacts of proposed policies or initiatives and provide data-supported recommendations. Experience supervising interdisciplinary staff, resolving personnel issues, conducting evaluations, managing performance, and overseeing continuing education. Demonstrated ability to provide licensure supervision (for LCSW or psychology/psychiatry trainees, depending on discipline). Evidence of strong communication and customer service skills, including ability to work with diverse populations and resolve complex Veteran or staff concerns in a professional manner. Demonstrated understanding of age-specific and culturally responsive mental health care needs across the adult and geriatric lifespan. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.