Clarification from the agency

This position is open to qualified VISN 4 Eastern Market employees only (Coatesville, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Wilkes Barre, & Wilmington)

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The Eastern Market PA will work as a member of the health care team that will promote and maintain health by providing the following medical services:

• Obtaining medical histories through chart review, telephone histories, and virtual visits, with occasional travel to Eastern Market sites for in person physical exams.
• Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating, and implementing care plans, and providing follow-up care.
• Provide both virtual and face-to-face care as directed.
• Carrying out various procedures that fall under the PA's scope of practice as directed by the specialty service line and in alignment with PA Directive 1063.
• Evaluating diagnostic tests to determine the need for further health care or specialty care needs.
• Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests as appropriate for the specialty care service.
• Carrying out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities.
• Ordering or obtaining laboratory specimens.
• Ordering ancillary services such as, pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, prosthetic services, etc.
• Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures.
• Ordering patient care supplies.
• Writing orders for or prescribing medications.
• Admitting and discharging patients in consultation with specialty services for observation and diagnostic testing needs. Writing patient orders on assigned patients being admitted to an observational unit for diagnostic testing or hydration needs.
• Other patient record entries by PAs, including medical histories, physical examinations, progress notes, service consults, Compensation and Pension evaluations, and patient orders do not require physician co-signature unless specifically required by Federal law, VA policy, or the standards of applicable external accrediting bodies.
• Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatments and procedures for which the PA is responsible.
• Work within the PA's scope of practice and abide by the supervisory agreement.
• Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• Reviewing pertinent medical information with the patient including explanation of disease processes, explanation of diagnostic studies, and preventative medicine.
• Administrative tasks include attending Eastern Market Special Ops Team meetings, reviewing returned diagnostic testing, TMS responsibilities, and other CME requirements.
• Travel to other Eastern Market facilities will be required as an extension of care for the specialty service and will be dictated by the medical chief of service and Eastern Market Director of Clinical Operations.
• Research opportunities are welcome and will be supported within the scope of practice.
• Teaching opportunities will be encouraged as the opportunities arise.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

To be determined based on employee's experience and education:

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.

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.