The PA will meet the VA expectations as a member of the medical staff adhering to Medical By-Laws, rules of the Medical Staff and practice under approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

The following duties include, but are limited to the following:

• Perform initial histories and physical examinations.
• Provide ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients as well as episodic patients.
• Screen outpatients to determine future care.
• Consults with the Supervising Physician for more complex diagnostic or therapeutic problems.
• Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice (including schedule 11-V controlled substances). Writing orders and prescriptions as necessary for the care of the patient in accordance with Federal and State law.
• Ordering diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests and x-rays.
• Carry out health promotion and disease prevention activities.
• Assess and treat patients independently and interdependently, order and interpret diagnostic testing, consult notes, procedure notes, progress notes, consultation requests and administrative letters which are written by the Physician Assistant will be clearly identified as such in the written and electronic medical records.
• Initiating the expediting requests for consultation and scheduling of special tests and studies.
• Making interim summaries on progress notes of the patient's medical record.
• Providing education and counseling to patients and families for preventative care, medical conditions and use of prescribed treatment and drugs.
• Perform various procedures related to Behavioral/Mental health as approved in his/her scope of practice.
• Participates in Quality Assurance activities including Root Cause Analysis and Failure mode Effect Analysis, tort claim review, etc.
• Participate in Behavioral Health Service staff meetings, BHIP team meetings and mandatory staff functions.
• Complete all mandatory training modules timely.
• Complete required number of total credit hours and patient safety hours annually.
• Must maintain active certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) with the required 100 hours of CME every two (2) years and recertification every six (6) years.
• must maintain active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Adhere to facility current policies and procedures and Medical Staff By-laws.
• Other duties as appropriate to the position.

Conditions of employment

• United States Citizenship Required; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Designated and/or random drug testing required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/15/2019.

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. The candidate must meeting the following:
(1) Graduate of a PA training program, or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations; and
(2) A Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Certification:
(1) Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) is required for employment in VHA.
(2) Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by VA on a temporary basis (38 J.S.C. 7405), for a period not to exceed two years, as provided in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section G, Paragraph 5.
(3) If a PA's NCCPA certification is suspended, revoked or expires, the PA must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment.

Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Part II, Appendix A.

English Language Proficiency. PAs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G8 - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT QUALIFICATION STANDARD. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires a combination of walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, bending, pulling, and pushing with potentially long periods of sitting. Transferring patients and objects may occasionally be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient procedures and care. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Use of fingers, both hands, and near and far vision is required.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.