Chief, Anesthesiologist

Chief, Anesthesiologist

VAMC Martinsburg

Anesthesiologists are fully licensed independent practitioners who provide perioperative medical care, anesthesia, pain management, and critical care services. They practice within the scope of their privileges as approved by the Medical Staff and Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECMS). Serves as the Chief of Anesthesia, within the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. The selectee performs direct medical care in their specialty and assists the Chief of Staff in supervising the Anesthesia Services.

The selectee must be Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesia and have authoritative intensive knowledge in the area of Anesthesia. Selectee will supervise other Anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Physician Assistants.

As Chief of Anesthesia, the selectee is:

• Is responsible for on-call services (includes nights, weekends and holidays). Weather essential when on call or post call.
• Facilitates patient access to medical care by recommending appropriate referrals to other health care providers in accordance with applicable policies and regulations.
• The position exercises full operational responsibility as first level supervisor.
  • Plans and adjust daily assignments for supervised staff assigned to the clinic and operating rooms.
  • Evaluates competencies of newly assigned personnel and others as required and orients staff to policies and procedures of the clinic and operating room.
  • Conducts staff meetings and coordinates in-service training. Executes all facility and departmental policies.
  • May be required to complete end of day workload reports and automated data system reports.
  • Promotes sound management principles, initiates and/or recommends personnel actions, develops employee work standards, observes and evaluates employee performance, identifies training needs and ensures that training is provided.
  • Initiates and maintains anesthesia staff performance appraisals utilizing VA required applications.
  • Counsels employees and takes disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands, referring more serious complaints to a higher level supervisor.
  • Investigates and resolves informal staff complaints and grievances.
  • Approves and disapproves leave and as Chief, is responsible for approving anesthesia timecards.
  • Provides clinical counseling as needed.
  • Serves as a role model emphasizing caring leadership.
  • Provide technical oversight; interview candidates for subordinate position; and recommend hiring, promotion, or reassignments.
  • Initiates FPPE’s/OPPE’s and Market Pay reviews for anesthesia providers.

An anesthesiologist may perform the following functions independently unless otherwise specified:

• Preoperative Assessment & Optimization
  • Conduct comprehensive patient evaluations for anesthesia risk.
  • Order and interpret laboratory, imaging, and diagnostic studies related to anesthetic management.
  • Obtain informed consent.
• Anesthesia Administration
  • Provide general, regional, neuraxial, monitored anesthesia care (MAC), and sedation.
  • Administer intravenous, inhalational, and adjunct anesthetic agents.
  • Manage the airway, including intubation and advanced airway devices.
• Intraoperative Management
  • Monitor physiologic parameters and adjust anesthetic depth accordingly.
  • Direct and supervise Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), anesthesia residents, and students.
  • Perform invasive monitoring (arterial line, central venous, pulmonary artery catheter).
  • Manage intraoperative fluid, electrolyte, and blood product therapy.
• Post-Anesthesia Care
  • Provide post-anesthesia care in PACU/ICU settings.
  • Manage postoperative pain (epidural, peripheral nerve blocks, PCA, multimodal analgesia).
  • Address complications related to anesthesia.
• Critical Care & Emergency Management
  • Provide advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).
  • Lead resuscitative efforts during perioperative emergencies.
  • Manage ventilatory and hemodynamic support in critically ill patients.
• Pain Management
  • Perform acute and chronic pain evaluations.
  • Administer pharmacologic, interventional, and regional pain therapies.
• Outside OR Anesthesia
  • Provide anesthesia in procedural suites (endoscopy, interventional radiology, cardiac cath lab, etc.).
  • Provide sedation and anesthesia for imaging and minor surgical procedures.

Medical Staff Functions:

• Participate in Surgery and general medical staff meetings, committee assignments, compliance and other components of an organized medical staff.

Education:

• Support academic affiliations that involve Surgical Service. Provide clinical experience, cognitive development, and other aspects of effective teaching.

Research:

• Research is not required. Research is encouraged by the VA and supported as feasible to allow the opportunity for study design, data collection, analysis, publication, and other aspects of research.

The selectee performs work with guidance from the Chief of Surgery and/or Chief/Deputy Chief of Staff.

Qualifications Requirements

See VA Handbook 5005,…