Physician - Chief Health Informatics Officer

Summary

The VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHCS) Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) is a leadership position that will oversee program operations related to clinical informatics – including strategic planning and program development – across all VACCHCS sites of care. The position will ensure that clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimum utilization of available resources. This position will report to the VACCHCS Chief of Staff.

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.
• 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, 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.
• Optional pathways: (1) Residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association in the list published for the completion year; (2) One year of post‑medical‑school training (internship or first year of residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice under a full and unrestricted license; (3) Non‑US residency training followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States, with relevant U.S. fellowships creditable toward this requirement.
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who otherwise meet the basic requirements are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians, may only be appointed on an intermittent basis, and are not considered independent practitioners.
• PRPs have a scope of practice that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision; 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 reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for physicians whose combined record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrants such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Additional required qualifications: board certified or board eligible in a specialty area.
• Preferred experience: previous experience leading a clinical informatics team through deployment of Electronic Health Records Modernization (Cerner).
• The incumbent is a physician and has completed an accredited residency training program.
• A minimum of five years of successful professional practice and three years in progressively more complex leadership assignments is preferred.
• Experience should be directly or indirectly related to health/clinical informatics.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit
• Physical requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position, including a physical examination prior to placement and subject to random drug testing. The position requires lifting 15–44 pounds, pushing (~2 hours), reaching above shoulder, using both hands, walking and standing for 3–5 hours, kneeling, rapid mental and muscular coordination, and depth perception. A hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
• Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm.
• Recruitment incentive: sign‑on bonus authorized pay, competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 50–55 days per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and an additional five days for CME.
• Retirement: traditional federal pension with 5‑year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contribution.
• Insurance: federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care; many federal programs can be carried into retirement.
• Licensure: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. 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 restriction on moonlighting.
• Major duties include – but are not limited to – responsible oversight and administration of clinical informatics, data analysis, data validation, software/hardware training, troubleshooting, testing, and validation across all VACCHCS facilities.
• Obtains, interprets, and analyzes disparate data sets from a variety of sources including the Clinical Data Warehouse, VISTA, VSSC, Pyramid Analytics, and others to support the delivery of patient care.
• Oversees the deployment of Electronic Health Record Modernization (Cerner) across VACCHCS sites and coordinates with VISN 21 sites.
• Serves as a leader and expert in change management, analyzing and evaluating clinical and administrative processes related to information and data flow.
• Provides patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life.
• Demonstrates knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and social sciences and applies that knowledge to patient care and the education of others.
• Other duties as assigned.

Equal Opportunity Statement

VACCHCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with all applicable civil rights, disability, and affirmative action laws and regulations. Applicants with disabilities can request accommodations during the application and hiring process.