Division Chair of Hospital Medicine | Department of Internal Medicine SOM - F67920

Mission or Goal of Unit: Advancement of the Clinical Care, Teaching and Research Missions of the Department of Internal Medicine and the VCU Health System. Thorough and responsive medicine consultation and co-management of non-medicine patients. Effective supervision, teaching and mentoring of Internal Medicine Housestaff and students. Streamlined throughput process for admitted medicine patients across the Health System.

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, seeks a Division Chair of Hospital Medicine. The incumbent will function as the Director of the Hospitalist Program in the Department of Internal Medicine, supervising the faculty of the Hospitalist Program and coordinating it’s activities. Establish programs to advance the academic development faculty of the Hospitalist Program. Establish and oversee Hospitalists initiatives to improve quality and safety of clinical care at VCUHS. Establish and advance the education of medical students and housestaff in inpatient clinical care. Directly admit and care for patients on the Hospital Medicine inpatient service working on teams both with and without Housestaff and students. Provide high-quality Hospital Medicine consults. Provide co-management services with other non-medicine specialties. Develop Hospital Medicine faculty with interests in hospital medicine, clinical research and teaching. Mentor residents in evidence-based inpatient medical care. Establish a venue for inpatient clinical research. Work within the hospital system and with other Departments to further the efficient throughput of admitted Internal Medicine patients.

Position Responsibilities: The recruitment, retention, mentoring and professional development (clinical and academic) of hospitalist physicians to serve on the inpatient hospitalist teams as well as on the general medicine consult service. Working with the DOIM Associate Chair for Clinical Affairs and DOIM leaders to coordinate clinical operations across the departmental inpatient services and to improve operational efficiencies of the inpatient services. Working with the DOIM Associate Chair for Education and other academic leaders to develop an environment that promotes excellence in education for UME, GME and other learners. Working with the Associate CMO for Clinical Operations to ensure the seamless integration of the general medical services with the ED and other inpatient clinical disciplines. Working with the DOIM Leaders, the Associate Dean for Quality and Safety, and the VCUHS Department of Performance improvement to identify and address clinical performance improvement opportunities, including but limited to: a) quality of clinical documentation b) improving patient transitions/reducing read missions c)managing sepsis d) reducing hospital acquired conditions e) increasing discharges by noon. Working with the lead hospitalist at Community Memorial Hospital and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital to develop, maintain, and integrate and excellent community based hospitalist program within the Division of Hospital Medicine. Developing co-management models of care with surgical services to promote quality of care through delivery of integrated clinical care across disciplines. Recruiting, supervising and integrating APPS as appropriate into the clinical services in support of the overall Division objectives; support the development and retention of APPS. Serving on the medicine inpatient and consulting services. Establishment of a Hospitalist Fellowship Program.

Required Qualifications:

• Board certification in Internal Medicine.
• Evidence of academic accomplishments consistent with appointment to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
• At least five years of experience in an academic hospitalist program.
• Previous leadership experience in an academic hospitalist program.
• Direct experience managing complex inpatients.
• Competency in standard inpatient procedures (including obtaining and interpretation of an arterial blood gas, central line placement, lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, paracentesis and arthrocentesis).
• Solid understanding of the hospitalist role and function.
• An interest in teaching and growth in an academic setting.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team, providing effective communication, both verbal and written, and an interest in furthering the research, scholarly and academic missions of the group.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
• The incumbent must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Virginia.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of a formal hospitalist fellowship.