PHYSICIAN; Spinal Cord- Assistant Chief

Position: PHYSICIAN (Spinal Cord- Assistant Chief)
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut-off dates are on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled

Our hospital provides primary care and specialty health services, including mental health services, physical therapy and rehabilitation, spinal cord injury treatment, and more. Located on the Georgia/South Carolina border, the city of Augusta, GA lies on the Savannah River, which supports its diverse economic endeavors as well as vast recreation options. It is located within close proximity to many major southern destinations including Atlanta, Columbia, and Charlotte.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):
Authorized

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

Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

* The incumbent will serve across one or more units, including SCI inpatient wards, the SCI clinic, and as a consultant to broader facility services. Reporting directly to the SCI Service Chief, the role encompasses both primary and consultative care for SCI/D patients.

Key responsibilities include:

* Admitting, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients in accordance with ABPMR and SCI Medicine standards

* Managing a panel of primary care SCI/D patients and participating in the physician on-call rotation

* Reviewing interfacility consults and providing guidance to Spoke site providers

* Assessing new injury referrals for appropriateness of SCI/D center admission

* Supporting performance measure compliance and clinical quality benchmarks

* Investigating inpatient/outpatient service issues and proposing actionable solutions

* Specialty procedures may be performed upon demonstration of competency and approval of clinical privileges.

* This role will require close collaboration with the SCI/D Business Manager, Admissions Coordinator, and Program Support to manage the inpatient census and scheduled admissions in alignment with staffing capacity. A strong operational grasp and responsive coordination will be essential to ensure continuity of care.

* The incumbent will also supervise and evaluate mid-level providers on the Service. This includes providing performance feedback, supporting professional development, and ensuring clinical standards are upheld.

* In addition to direct patient care responsibilities, the incumbent will oversee the SCI/D Telehealth Program. Working closely with the Nurse Telehealth Coordinator, they will be tasked with meeting strategic goals set at the Medical Center, VISN, or Central Office level. Their leadership in this area will be instrumental in scaling virtual care delivery.

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm "Subject to change based on the needs of the agency"