Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Physician Assistant (Interventional Radiology)

The PA is expected to demonstrate ability to work effectively with patients, families, and significant others, with professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care, and with members of other services. The PA is also expected to show the ability to provide effective care of patients; i.e. assesses, plans, implements, documents, evaluates patient care; manages care for assigned patients; initiates effective actions in emergencies.

FUNCTIONS:

• Performing and/or assisting with interventional radiology procedures, including fluoroscopy, (under the supervision of the attending interventional radiologist).
• Administer central venous access (ie. dialysis catheter, ports, central lines).
• Place chest tubes tunneled or non-tunneled.
• Perform thoracentesis and paracentesis.
• Place tunneled access drain catheters.
• Perform joint injections, steroid, aspiration for culture, injection for CT or MR arthrograms.
• Perform lumbar punctures.
• Assist with the appropriate and timely scheduling of patient for the interventional radiology service.
• Provide education and counseling for patients and family members with regards to interventional radiology procedures, risks-benefits-alternative, preventative care, medical conditions, and ongoing-future treatment plans.
• Performing history and physical exams, and appropriately documenting noted findings and recommendations in the medical chart, as part of the interventional radiology consult service
• follow up care coordination.
• Ordering diagnostic studies such as labs, imagining studies, or any other appropriate diagnostic study deemed necessary for patient care.
• Ordering consults to other services (ie anesthesia, oncology, surgery, cardiology, pathology, pharmacy, social services, etc) for patient evaluation and management as deemed necessary for patient care.
• Screening patients to determine the need for further health care.
• Obtaining and documenting informed consent for interventional radiology treatments/procedures.
• Ordering or obtaining laboratory specimens.
• Ordering patient care supplies.
• Writing orders for or prescribing medications.
• Administering IV fluids, medications, or contrast agents
• Assist with any other administrative duties as deemed appropriate by the Chief of Radiology, Clinical Manager, or the overseeing practitioner.
• Obtain interpretation of routine diagnostic labs, EKG, and other tests.
• Work collaboratively with medical students, residents, fellows, nurses, attending surgeons.

Typical procedures include:
- Surgical dressing changes including specialized dressing such as Unna boot, VAC dressings, etc.
- General wound care including minor debridement,
- Administer intra-muscular, subcutaneous, intradermal injections & immunizations
-Venipunctur

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: 8:00am04:30pm, Monday-Friday.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Physician Assistant Basic Requirement:

• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).]
• Education: Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Certification: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• License: 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.

Preferred Experience: Emergency Medicine trained

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

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 Officeof 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 multi-disciplinary 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 6
ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Officeof 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.

Preferred Experience: Experience with insertion of chest tube, insertion of chest drain, thoracentesis, paracentesis, Fluoroscopy and GI studies, lumbar punction, Ultrasound guided needle biopsy, Ultrasound guided needle aspiration, Ultrasound guided abscess drainage, Arthrography joint aspiration, Arthrography joint injection

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III.

Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by the incumbent such as physical assessment, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling

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.