Summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) routinely provides inpatient general medicine care - both upon initial admission and for - follow-up issues. PAs function in inter-disciplinary teams (including Pharmacists - Social Workers - Nutrition support) to coordinate care for inpatients.

Qualifications

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
• Education: [Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations
• Additionally - candidates must meet one of the following: Master's degree in any discipline
• OR Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA
• Certification: Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) Licensure: PAs must possess an active - current - full - and unrestricted license to practice in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State
• Licensure exception for Graduate PAs: (a) PAs who otherwise meet the basic requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed - pending licensure - as a graduate PA on a temporary full-time appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• (b) Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• (c) Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) (a) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• This is the entry level for PAs
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• The following list of knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA
• This practice may include - but is not limited to: i
• Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care
• ii
• Ability to perform patient history and physical
• iii
• Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient
• iv
• Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession
• Physician Assistant-II (PA-II) (a) Experience and Education
• The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below
• Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving
• Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by i
• Two years of successful practice as a PA
• OR ii
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA - ARC-PA - U.S. Armed Forces - or another accrediting agency
• OR iii
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify - but should be able to demonstrate - develop - or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II: i
• Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems
• ii
• Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions
• iii
• Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care
• iv
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care
• v
• Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively
• Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) (a) Experience and Education
• PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently - practice within multidisciplinary teams - and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system
• They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes
• They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities - may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs - and may provide training for health care students
• Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by: i
• Three years of successful practice as a PA
• OR ii
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA - ARC-PA - U.S. Armed Forces - or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA
• OR iii
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify - but should be able to demonstrate - develop - or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III: i
• Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care
• ii
• Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill - multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE)
• iii
• Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials
• iv
• Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals - health managers - and other health care personnel
• v
• Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes
• vi
• Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records
• Preferred Experience: Internal medicine board certified hospitalists Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• Major duties: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES: The incumbent is assigned as a clinician with responsibilities to the Inpatient Medicine Service under the guidance and direction of the Section Chief - Hospital medicine
• The incumbent participates in - oversees and collaborates to ensure that all applicable clinical functions (which may include inpatient care and utilization of other consultative services) are performed
• PAs are tasked with providing timely and courteous service to all veterans seeking care
• Collaborates with other health care professionals and health care systems to ensure continuity of care of patients
• Provides patient education
• Perform bedside procedures as indicated by training/credentials as applicable
• Participates in strategic planning for the service
• Attends and provides input - as appropriate - to the inpatient management and other committees and councils - as needed
• Attends regularly scheduled Hospitalist section staff meetings and other clinical and administrative staff meetings Actively promotes performance improvement measures within the Hospitalist Section
• Supports VHA and all Medicine Service directives - policies - procedures - rules and regulations
• Work Schedule: Varies Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized