Clarification from the agency

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

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This position is a 1.0 FTE with split responsibility between administrative/education and clinical at .3 FTE and .7 FTE.

DUTIES:

• Coordinate all clinical rotations and oversee credentialing standards are fulfilled by PA trainees and credentialing coordinators prior to rotation starts.
  • George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center rotations offered:
    • Primary Care -University of Utah PA trainees
    • Mental Health - Psychiatry - Idaho State PA trainees
    • By request for solo students: Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Community Based Outpatient Clinic

• Ensure that all trainees participate in required credentialing procedures and orientation process with identified established and current VA policies and trainee's role within the VA system.
• Educate preceptors and provide established PA training guidelines from our academic affiliates and supervisory standards of practice established MEDVAMC policies and procedures.
• Develop and provide continuously updated PA Student/Resident Orientation Program.
• Provide VA PA clinical rotation guidelines within each specialty from each PA Program. Ensures understanding of students and preceptor responsibilities prior to and upon completion of each clinical rotation as mandated by ARC-PA standards.
• Develop and maintains required student evaluations and directs change toward continuous enhancement and improvement of PA trainee clinical experiences.
• Ensure that supervising practitioners provide quality supervision and systematic feedback within a broad range of medical and surgical experiences that meets ARC-PA and affiliated institutional standards.
• Support trainees to give open and ongoing feedback regarding supervising practitioners, the training program, and VA site as a method of continuous improvement. Reviewing feedback through the Learner's Survey during and after their training.
• Ensure accurate account of the facility's participation in tracking PA Preceptors and trainees for purpose of Annual Health Service Training Report.
• Ensure proper record and maintenance of established affiliation agreements and subsequent supporting documents required for VA clinical training programs with the participating PA Programs.
• Provide vital link between education and practice through routine meetings with PA Program Directors. Maintains close relationships and open and ongoing communication with academic affiliates PA program directors and clinical coordinators participating in the PA Trainee Program.
• Maintain close relationships and open communication with VA preceptors to keep them informed of upcoming educational and training opportunities, changes, or conflicts in schedules and other issues as they arise.
• Monitor the provision and documentation of the end of rotation evaluation by the Preceptor for PA trainees.
• Guide action regarding trainee-related problems.
• Facilitate communication with public/private partnerships and engagement with external communities.
• Commit to inter-professional health education and to building a stronger community of physician assistants, other healthcare professionals, and students.
• Advise senior administration on innovations in health care delivery and education and enhances the visibility and recognition of Physician Assistants.
• Attend staff and committee meetings as assigned by the Chief of Staff (Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, Peer Review, Credentialing).
• Responsible for all human resources, education, service care line, payroll, and occupational health administrative requirements, ie PIV, Physicals if required, TMS training.
• Precept trainees 3-5 days per week while in clinic as a PACT PA (Primary Care Provider).
• Practice primary care/internal medicine in a team based model (PACT) with an interdisciplinary approach.
• This primary care role is incumbent with a high degree of responsibility and independence to manage their own panel of patients.
• Evaluate patient care delivery systems and identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
• Present clinical findings and recommendations to management officials.
• Facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
• Implement clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon medical literature research findings to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Participate in the development of the PA patient care audit process with in-dept review and analysis.
• Demonstrate an elevated level of autonomy treating seriously ill and multi-symptomatic patients through both Focused Professional Practice Evaluation and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation.

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

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.

• Physician Assistant-IV (PA-IV).
• PA (Facility Education Lead or Residency Program Director). PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors are responsible for the management, structure, and administration of the PA clinical trainee program. They ensure programs comply with VA Office of Academic Affiliations standards and accrediting bodies of sponsoring affiliated institutions while activities are being held at VA facilities. PA Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors develop, implement, and enhance PA clinical education training programs.
  • Experience. PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors require five years of experience, which include educational assignments, such as proctoring PAs or medical students, setting up continuing medical education for local VHA PAs or participating in community health events; serving as a PA director or assistant in a VHA residency program or stipend program; or serving as a member or staff of an academic PA program.
  • 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-IV:
    • Ability to develop and update VA PA clinical rotation guidelines within each clinical specialty to ensure students and preceptors understand the responsibilities prior to and upon completion of each clinical rotation.
    • Skills to maintain student evaluations and oversee changes that facilitate continuous enhancements and improvements of PA trainee clinical experiences.
    • Ability to give quality systematic feedback to the practitioner within a broad range of medical and surgical experiences that meets ARC-PA and affiliated institutional standards.
    • Ability to support trainees to allow open and ongoing feedback regarding collaborating practitioner, the training program, and VA site as a method of continuous improvement.
    • Skill to properly record and maintain established affiliation agreements and subsequent supporting documents required for VA clinical training programs.
    • Skill to maintain close relationships and open and ongoing communication with academic affiliates PA program directors and clinical coordinators participating in the PA trainee program.

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.