Clarification from the agency

Opened to current permanent VA employees (VACO, VHA, VBA, NCA). You will be required to provide an SF50 issue within the past year. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The HBPC PA serves as the primary care provider for a designated panel of Veterans characterized by complex, chronic, and disabling conditions. These Veterans, identified as medically vulnerable and often homebound, receive comprehensive, longitudinal primary
care within their residence as a direct alternative to traditional site-based Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). The PA is responsible for the orchestration of care for Veterans who have formally consented to the HBPC model of service delivery.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Primary focus of practice is independent comprehensive clinical evaluation and assessment of assigned panel of patients enrolled in the HBPC program. Care may be provided n different modalities in accordance with program, facility and national policies
  (face to face, phone, video).
• Conduct in-home comprehensive medical evaluations, including history, physical examination, and functional assessments for Veterans with chronic, acute, and complex conditions.
• Diagnose and manage acute and chronic illnesses, including multimorbidity commonly seen in geriatric and medically fragile populations.
• Develop, implement, and adjust individualized treatment plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary HBPC team (e.g. social work, rehabilitation therapists, dietitians, and psychology).
• Ensures accurate, timely, and complete documentation of clinical encounters, and alerts in the electronic health record. Tracks, and follows up on orders for consult services and diagnostic testing, with timely communication of test results in accordance with VHA
  policies, timeliness standards, and performance measures.
• Completes administrative requirements related to workload capture, encounter coding,
  clinical reminders, and other documentation necessary to support accurate reporting and
  program metrics.
• Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities, including
  data collection, chart reviews, peer review, and adherence to HBPC and VHA clinical
  performance measures.
• Performs infection prevention and control activities within scope of practice, including
  appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and
• cleaning/disinfection of reusable equipment in the home setting in accordance with VHA policy and national standards.
• Complies with VA travel and safety requirements, including operation of government owned or approved vehicles, completion of required driver safety training, and submission of mileage and travel documentation as applicable
• Ensures proper accountability, maintenance, and secure handling of government-issued equipment and supplies used in the home-based care environment.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday -Friday
Telework: Ad-hoc with supervisor approval and per VA policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP team at VISN6HRDUREDRP@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn moreThis position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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 identification 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.

Grade Determinations:
(1) 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.

(2) 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:

• Two years of successful practice as a PA.

OR

• 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

• 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:

• Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
• Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
• Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
• Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

(3) 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:

• Three years of successful practice as a PA.

OR

• 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

• 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:

• Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
• 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).
• Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management
• officials.
• Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
• 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.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is VN-603-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-602-I to VN-603-III.

Preferred qualification: Outpatient Primary Care experience as a PA for 2 years or more. Experience as a PA in home setting.

Physical Requirements: The work of the Physician Assistant (PA) in Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) is primarily performed in community and home-based settings and requires a combination of physical
activity, mobility, and environmental adaptability. This includes prolonged periods of driving, entering and exiting vehicles, and navigating variable geographic areas. The PA must have the ability to operate a government-owned or approved vehicle and maintain a valid driver's license. Compliance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs driver safety requirements and travel policies is required. The PA must comply with occupational health requirements, including participation in required screenings, immunizations, and reporting of occupational injuries or exposures. Additional responsibilities include participation in emergency preparedness (e.g., GEMS), adherence to workplace safety and violence prevention policies, maintaining information security in mobile work settings, and upholding professional boundaries in home-based care environments

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.