Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current and permanent Lexington, KY #596 employees. 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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Duties may include but are not limited to:

• All consultations, reports of histories and physical examinations, and special examination records written by the PA will clearly identify the provider as a physician assistant
• Leadership: Participation in staff meetings, hospital committees, and peer review process. Demonstrate effective communication to other staff and up to leadership, to include input to heads up messages (for acute patient bad outcomes) and issue briefs. Participate in Clinical Pertinence Reviews (routine medical record reviews).
• Credentials: Maintain VA training requirements and timely completion of documentation and upkeep of credentials required for scope of practice. Participate in the FPPE/OPPE process. Ensure orders or prescriptions written comply with the parameters of state licensure and scope of practice.
• Organizational: Adheres to employee health requirements. Time/Leave Management: Adherence to policy for assigned tour of duty and timely requests for leave in VISTA and for clinic cancellations.
• The physician assistant will perform administrative duties as directed by the supervising physician or agent of the supervising provider.
• In conjunction with supervising and consulting physicians, performs complete evaluations on, develops treatment plans and implements therapeutic intervention for, and provides appropriate follow-up care to inpatients.
• Provides education and counseling to patient/family in the areas of health promotion, and maintenance.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team, enacts treatment plan, provides education, and ensures appropriate follow-up.
• Records all physical findings in the patient's medical record and has notes counter signed at the request of the supervising physician.
• Acts as a consultant/mentor to PAs in lower grades and other clinical and support staff.
• The physician assistant will abide by all Veterans Administration (VA) rules and regulations pertinent to the scope of practice within any VA facility.
• Demonstrates leadership in developing productive working relationships with groups in other programs, services, academic settings, and community agencies.
• Research medical literature and applies evidenced-based medicine to improve clinical practice.
• Shares medical literature research findings with colleagues to enhance patient care delivery.

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.

(1) Master's degree in any discipline; OR
(2) Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.

• Certification. [Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. (See paragraph 3a in this standard for additional information regarding the certification requirement for employees grandfathered into the occupation.)
• Licensure. PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations:
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.

(a) PA (Facility Lead). Facility lead PAs have a thorough understanding of the various functions involved in the care of patients, and the ability to interact effectively with different medical and surgical specialists, health care team members, and administrative staff. Facility lead PAs have the knowledge and expertise pertaining to PA employment, credentialing, clinical practice, and appropriate utilizations of PAs. A lead PA can monitor patient care operations, polices, and work performance of fellow PAs.

i. Experience. PA facility leads require five years of experience, which includes progressively responsible leadership assignments, such as serving on any local committees, workgroups, or taskforces. The PA may exhibit knowledge of PA VHA employment and utilization of PAs through demonstrative actions as a facility point of contact (POC) for PA issues, policies, and directives.

ii. 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 provide clinically and occupationally focused orientation to new PA appointees and mentoring other PA staff members.
b. Knowledge of the FPPE and OPPE processes to evaluate and assess patient care services provided by PA staff.
c. Knowledge of the educational needs of PAs.
d. Ability to provide leadership and clinical oversight of PAs at the facility.
e. Ability to exercise independent judgment, perform tasks involving special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines.
f. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of professional clinical staff.

Preferred Experience:
A. Senior PA (Grade 3) in good standing
B. Proven record of leadership with evidence of strong advocacy for the PA profession
C. Solid understanding of pertinent VHA policies and Directives to include VA Handbook 5005/134 PA Qualification Standards, VHA Directive 1063 : PA Practice Authority, PA Occupational Codes HR Smart 2024, Above Minimum Entry Grade Worksheet and PA Pay Setting, awards, and promotion tools, ePerformance, and PA functional statements
D. Willingness to spend off time working on PA advocacy and support activities (i.e. meeting with interested PA candidates for hire, orientating new hires, meeting the VACO and VICN leadership, etc.)
E. Prepared to attend biweekly MEC assemblies, meet with HR for PA pay setting, serve as SME for Director, COS Departments.
F. Communicate to Service Chiefs on topics specific to PAs, and attend monthly national Chief PA meeting via Teams.

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-4.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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.