Clarification from the agency

Open ONLY to current VA Employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to below Required Documents section.

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Physician Assistant Supervisor (PA-IV) - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Pain) serves as provider with diagnostic and prescribing privileges in pain to provide comprehensive pain management including medication management, referrals, ordering of imaging and labs as indicated for individual patient cases. The primary clinical responsibility of the supervisory pain PA is the provision of evidence-based care through direct care with patients, consultation with other providers on the team including supervising physician, and chart review for completion of assigned e-consults. The pain PA promotes and manages pain care on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN and local levels - adhering to the stepped care model for pain management (SCM-PM). Provides leadership and if needed strategic oversight for pain management initiatives across multiple service lines, aligning local practice with national VA PMOP guidance, VISN goals, and VHA directives. This is also a supervisory position that works in close collaboration with the pain program manager, pain physician supervisor, pain section chief, and other facility stakeholders. Directly supervises assigned PAs and/or other staff, including responsibility for performance evaluations, competency assessment, workload distribution, and regulatory compliance. Ensures supervisees receive all professional guidance, policy and communications, along with department missions and goals

Administrative Duties include but are not limited to:

• Working in close collaboration with the pain program manager, pain physician supervisor, pain section chief, and other facility stakeholders
• Supporting a high function pain management team that includes stakeholders from across the facility, and supporting subcommittees, task forces/work groups as indicated
• Providing supervision, leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for the assigned staff. They initiate and conduct program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity
• Overseeing relevant outpatient program operations and evaluations, working with program manager to identify and implement areas for improvement by gathering, assessing and evaluating data and outcomes
• Supporting facility level understanding of stepped-care model for pain management and opioid risk mitigation in collaboration with national PMOP efforts as appropriate
• Partnering with other relevant specialties and stakeholders to monitor and disseminate best clinical practices related to pain management, etc.

Clinical Duties include but are not limited to:

• Designing, implementing, and monitoring therapeutic pain management plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas as a provider.
• Actively involved in all outpatient aspects of patients' pain management. Communicating findings with other providers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Evaluating patient care and recognizing significant abnormalities.
• Documenting clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.
• Obtaining pain treatment histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record.
• Ordering, conducting, reviewing and analyzing appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Following up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy (i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring and evaluating, additional testing requirements, referral to primary care or specialty care physician), etc.

Work Schedule: TBD(Typically 0730-1600, M-F)
Telework: Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

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.
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization

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:

• Education: Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant
• Examination: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam)
• License/Registration: 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 DETERMINATION - 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-IV (PA-IV). Positions may include but are not limited to: Facility or Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Lead PA, Facility PA Education Lead, PA Residency Program Director, or other Clinical and/or Administrative leadership assignments.
  • PA (Clinical Leader/Administrative Leader). PAs at the PA-IV grade level may serve as clinical leader or administrative leader. Clinical PA Leaders may be assigned to positions/studies where limited guidance exists as physician oversight is not required. Administrative PA Leaders are involved with strategic planning and administrative/managerial responsibilities for integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. A PA clinical leader/administrative leader may monitor or evaluate services or programs with interaction of senior administration.
    • Experience. PA clinical leaders/administrative leaders require five years of
      experience which included leadership assignments that involved formulating
      program objectives and priorities, implementing plans and practices, and interpreting regulatory and organizational guidance to develop and implement policies and/or procedures.
    • 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:
      a. Ability to assess information and make recommendations that may
      significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of programs
      concerning critical matters or key issues within the health care system.
      b. Ability to schedule and supervise staff, students, or ancillary personnel, to
      include conducting performance evaluations.
      c. Skill in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling an integrated program.
      d. Skill in design, management of budget, and cost benefit analysis to ensure optimal stewardship of resources.
      e. Ability to analyze complex medical care, organizational processes and/or
      systems, and develop and implement solutions that improve outcomes at the program or service level.
      f. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies or procedures to justify program goals and motivate assigned personnel

Grandfathering Provision Note: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• If a PA is certified by the NCCPA, but not licensed on the effective date of the qualification standard, they are not required to obtain or maintain a license to remain employed in VHA. However, if they lose or fail to maintain their NCCPA certification after this qualification standard is effective and do not possess a full, valid, and unrestricted license, they are no longer qualified for employment as a PA in VHA.
• PAs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If a PA who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
• PAs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification and meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• PAs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

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

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.

Preferred Experience:

• 1+ year VHA supervisory experience
• 1+ year VHA Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and PDMP (PMOP) Committee experience
• 1+ year Active Management of Controlled Substances experience
• Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Ketamine Infusion Therapy experience
• Complex Pain setting Interdisciplinary Team experience with close collaboration with
  • physical therapists
  • pharmacists
  • psychologists
  • whole health providers

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.

PAY-SETTING 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.

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.