Physician Assistant (Orthopedic)

Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location: Fairfield
Posted on: August 2, 2022

Job Description:

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more Responsibilities This position supports the outpatient Orthopedics Service team at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. The PA will support the outpatient team with care coordination and pre- and post-operative care. The PA must also be able to perform independent direct patient care, including but not limited to history-taking and physical exams and progress notes for post-operative visits. The Mid-Level Physician Assistant will provide a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic care and procedures for patients. All patient orders must be reviewed and cosigned by a physician within hospital guidelines. The PA will work under supervision and guidance of the supervising physician or his/her alternates. The supervisor physician or alternate will review all charts for a predetermined period in accordance with hospital policy and thereafter, randomly chosen charts will be routinely reviewed. The PA will work 40 hours a week. Occasional tour changes are not anticipated but could be requested to provide vacation and/or sick leave coverage. The PA should be comfortable working with adult medical and surgical patients. The PA will be responsible for a portion of the service's after-hour and weekend call duties. Backup will be available by a physician on-site on most occasions during work hours and by phone after hours. The PA will be required to periodically meet with his/her supervisor at Sacramento VAMC. Functions: Main duties will be full spectrum of care for Orthopedics Service patients at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. Additional duties include coordinating arrangements for further care if appropriate, ordering and interpreting lab and diagnostic tests, prescribing medication, requesting consultation. Provides medical care with the cognizance or supervision of a physician. Obtains and evaluates medical histories, performs physical examinations, performs therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, and orders laboratory studies, radiographs, electrocardiograms, and other special examinations. Analyzes and interprets data, formulates problems lists, and establishes plans for solution of clinical problems. Counsels patients on medical problems, use of drugs, expected effects of treatment, diet, and other therapeutic health maintenance matters. Provides lifesaving procedures and medications within the scope of practice. Performs aspirations and injections, wound care, and other minor procedures in clinic under direct supervision by a physician. Provides surgical assistance to an orthopedic surgeon in the operating room if needed. Coordinates patient care. Coordinates patient care with other members of health care team. Initiates consultation of requests to other health care professionals to provide more comprehensive patient management. Accomplishes narrative summaries and other documentation. Instructs other members of the health care team. Instructs other personnel assigned to health care team on preventative medicine programs and other appropriate medical activities and functions, or as directed by a physician. Educates residents, medical students, nursing and PA students, and other personnel enrolled in clinical rotations with the service. The PA will be responsible for a portion of the service's after-hour and weekend call duties. Backup will be available by a physician on-site on most occasions during work hours and by phone after hours. Prescriptive privileges will follow VA and medical center guidelines. He/she will be authorized to prescribe all routine medications as listed in the VA Pharmacy Formulary except for chemotherapeutic agents, and special medications restricted to approval by another section or department. Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am - 5:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Susan.Bringel@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Discloser Report: Not required Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Graduate of a Physician Assistant training program, or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations: AND A Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Certification: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required for employment in VHA. Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by VA on a temporary basis (38 U.S.C. 7405), for a period not to exceed two years, as provided in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section G, Paragraph 5. If a PA's NCCPA certification is suspended, revoked or expires, the PA must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-8 Physician Assistant Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring periods of walking, standing, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting, reaching and carrying. Manual dexterity is required to operate medical equipment and perform activities such as surgery, treatments and computerized medical record documentation. GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade for appointment or promotion eligibility. Requirements for appointment or promotion to a specific grade are based on the candidate's ability to demonstrate the elements described. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13 . Intermediate Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Full Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Intermediate Grade will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems and meet the following requirements:(1) Experience/Education(a) 1 year of professional practice as a PA; or(b) Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or(c) A Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Senior Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Intermediate Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Senior Grade will have demonstrated the behaviors or responsibilities listed in one or more of the following categories: Clinical Proficiency, Education, Professional Development, Management/Administrative, and Research, as applicable to the assignment:(1) Experience/Education(a) 3 years of professional practice as a PA; or(b) 2 years of professional practice as a PA and successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or (c) 2 years of professional practice as a PA and a Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or (d) A Doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U. S. Department of Education.(2) Management/Administrative. One of the following responsibilities must be demonstrated:(a) Evaluates service level patient care delivery systems and validates or identifies barriers to safe, effective care. Presents findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials and participates in implementation of changes.(b) Manages patient quality management data bases such as the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) if assigned.(c) Serves on service or facility committees/task forces if applicable to the assignment.(d) Coordinates consult referrals within the service assigned.(e) Coordinates and facilitates inter-service agreements. Chief Grade. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Senior Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Appointment or promotion to Chief Grade is based on the individual's demonstrated high level of clinical expertise, leadership ability, and the ability to function with a high degree of autonomy. Further, the PA candidate for Chief Grade will have demonstrated all the requirements of one or more of the following categories: Management/Administrative, Clinical Proficiency, Professional Development and Research.(1) Experience/Education(a) Generally, an individual in this grade is able to demonstrate the behaviors listed in the areas below after 5 years of professional practice as a PA; and,(b) The minimum education for this grade is a Master's Degree from a PA training program accredited by ARC-PA or in a health-related field of study. However, experience as a PA may be substituted for the Master's degree where the individual has an equivalent knowledge of the profession and has successfully undertaken a combination of difficult or complex assignments in several clinical, administrative, research and educational arenas which required a high degree of competence.(2) Management/Administrative(a) Accepts substantial and continuing responsibility for managing or coordinating a healthcare program including follow-up actions to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies required by internal and external review organizations and accrediting bodies, and;(b) Successfully integrates the activities of the employee's assignment with other patient care programs at the facility or with similar programs on a broader geographic basis, and;(c) Develops policies and procedures and participates in executive level decision making deliberations, and;(d) Participates in long range program planning and model development for effective delivery of services, and;(e) Performs a full range of administrative duties relative to the assignment.(3) Clinical Competencies(a) Clinical Proficiency(1) Evaluates facility patient care delivery systems and validates or identifies barriers to safe, effective care. Presents findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials and participates in implementation of changes, and;(2) Exhibits leadership in initiating changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and findings from research and/or studies, and;(3) Facilitates the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers and other health care personnel, and;(4) Exhibits exceptional clinical skills and consistently demonstrates a high level of expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Fairfield , Physician Assistant (Orthopedic), Healthcare , Fairfield, California