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.

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Across Medical services, a Physician Assistant is authorized to perform the following core medical functions, while working under close supervision of a designated physician; with limited independence in decision-making in care decisions. Duties for this position include but are not limited to:

• Provides comprehensive inpatient medical care to adult veterans, including evaluation and management of acute, episodic, and chronic conditions
• Practices with appropriate clinical autonomy within granted privileges in collaboration with and supported by supervising internal medicine physician faculty.
• Serve as a primary provider on the Direct Care service and the General Internal Medicine/GIM Teaching services, managing daily patient care activities including admissions, ongoing management, care coordination, and discharge planning
• Coordinates and oversees inpatient care, coordinates timely communication, safe transitions of care
• Provides clinical guidance and continuity for Internal Medicine residents, medical students, and other trainees involved in patient care
• Lead and support resident teams in addressing all aspects of inpatient care, with a focus on patient safety, high value care, and adherence to evidence based practices
• Demonstrates accountability to established VA policies, procedures, and standards of care
• Utilizes advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis, clinical decision making, treatment planning and implementation of the patient's care plan
• Delivers patient centered care to a diverse veteran population (ages 18 through geriatric) incorporating medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural considerations
• Collaborates with other members of the health care team to design and/or continuously improve the quality of care delivered to Veterans
• Care Management: Formulating, implementing, and managing long-term treatment plans for patients with acute, chronic, and complex diseases.
• Diagnostic Ordering: Ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, specialized diagnostic imaging (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, MRIs), and electrocardiograms (EKGs).
• Prescriptions & Orders: Writing medical orders and prescribing medications in alignment with VA national formularies, federal laws, and applicable state regulations.
• Consults & Referrals: Initiating specialty consults within the VA infrastructure and coordinating requests for non-VA community care.
• Patient Education: Counseling veterans and their families regarding preventive care, health promotion, disease management, and the proper use of prescribed treatments.
• Electronic Health Records: Utilizing the VA's electronic charting systems (such as CPRS or updated platforms) to thoroughly document clinical notes, encounters, and consents.
• Performance Metrics: Maintaining strict compliance with VA performance guidelines, quality improvement initiatives, and safety metrics (e.g., SAIL metrics).
• Peer Review & Training: Participating in facility peer reviews, auditing clinical processes, and instructing or assisting medical residents with orders and VA navigational systems.

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 evaluation/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.

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
• 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:

1. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
2. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
3. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
4. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

• 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:

1. Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR
2. 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
3. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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

• 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:

1. Three years of successful practice as a PA OR
2. 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
3. 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.

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.