Summary
This 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.
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Duties
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The Physician Assistant is an integral part of the primary care team and is called upon for several important duties. The Physician Assistant (PA) is an individual who is a graduate of an accredited PA program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
(ARC-PA). Medical prescribing privileges for controlled substances can only be granted in accordance with the Federal Controlled Substances Act and applicable regulations. In order to prescribe controlled substances, the health care practitioner's state of licensure or registration must permit him or her to do so. PA's function as agents of their supervising physician within their identified scope of practice.
The Primary Care PA works as a member of the multidisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and provides care to a panel of approximately 900 patients. The Primary Care PA assists with the total care of the patient's medical needs by performing history and physical examinations, promoting preventative health measures, managing acute and chronic conditions, ordering appropriate lab tests, evaluating those tests and acting within the guidelines laid down by the supervising physician to ensure quality care of the patient. The Primary Care PA functions as an integral part of a PACT team to coordinate, facilitate and provide patient care and services. The Primary Care PA assists in preparation of the patient to include but not limited to teaching, accumulating data and medical problems, and as needed, presenting patient- centered discussion of medical problems with his/her supervising Physician.
The Primary Care PA will be responsible for maintaining medical record entries which reflect the patient's healthcare. Recording will be accomplished using the electronic comprehensive patient record system (CPRS) and will be completed in a timely manner in compliance with documentation requirements and policies. The PA will act as the focal point of the designated outpatient clinic by being the contact person for all other consultant-specialty services regarding
The Primary Care PA will provide services as directed to meet the needs of the patient population being served by the medical center. These duties may include backup coverage to areas under the supervision of Section Chief Primary Care. The Physician Assistant must be flexible in the work assignments based upon the immediate needs of the service line.
Scope of Assigned Duties:
- Effectively evaluates and treats patients with more complex medical problems requiring a higher degree of clinical skill and competency.
- Orders testing, consults, etc. as appropriate for the Veteran's condition.
- Performs complete diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as applicable in the provision of primary care.
- Documents in the medical record in keeping in with the Bylaws of the Medical Center.
- Provide clinical care to Veterans and provides clinical oversight of the PACT team to which assigned.
- Ensures that medical treatment or care plans consist of current best medical practices and are evidence based if possible.
- Ensures practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission, CARF, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, VISN standards, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, mandatory continuing education, and HIPAA policies.
- Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
- Actively promotes a customer-oriented culture and promotes the hiring of persons who demonstrate the VA's iCARE values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence.
- Encourages an atmosphere of trust, psychological safety and empowerment in all functional areas under her/his oversight.
- Completes projects or duties as assigned by the Chief, PCSL.
The incumbent is responsible to the Chief of Primary Care, but practices independently, exercising initiative and
independent judgment in day-to-day activities and provision of primary care to Veterans.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Telework: Not available.
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 Coordinator, Cheryl Lahair, at cheryl.lahair@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
Requirements
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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.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the Agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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: 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-I (PA-I):
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:
- Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
- Ability to perform patient history and physical.
- Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
- Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.
Physician Assistant-II (PA-II):
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.
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.
Physician Assistant-III (PA-III):
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:
- 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.
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.
- 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-0603-II. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-0602-I to VN-0602-III.
Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position may involve standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. The work may involve going up and down flights of stairs.
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 requi
