Remote Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The physician assistant will function within the setting of the cardiothoracic section of the department of surgery at the RLR VA Medical Center. Provide medical and surgical care for both inpatients and outpatients in the sections of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical intensive care, serving as the primary coordinator for the physicians and PA/ARNP providers. Cardiothoracic patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic.
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Duties
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Cardiothoracic Surgery Duties: Provide medical and surgical care for both inpatients and outpatients in the sections of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical intensive care, serving as the primary coordinator for the physicians and PA/ARNP providers. Cardiothoracic patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic. The PA shall coordinate patient care programs based upon the admitting chief complaint and shall perform the following duties:

• Designing and conducting comprehensive examinations, diagnosis and implementation of treatment plans, admission orders, discharge summaries as well as ordering special labs, and radiographic studies.
• Provide medical education /counseling of patients and their families.
• Verify, establish and assure that identified pre-operative surgical requirements are met, assure appropriate arrangements have been established for admission, and coordinate inpatient activities on the floor.
• Primary responsibility for admissions and medical care of patients.
• Assist the surgeon in the operating room, including prepping and draping, and first or second assist in surgery.
• Perform bedside procedures including, placement of arterial lines, swan-ganz catheters and central lines, bronchoscopy, changing of tracheostomy tubes, wound care and debridement, thoracentesis, removal of chest tubes, temporary pacing wires, intra-aortic balloon pump, central lines, arterial lines, and drains.
• Demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat cardiothoracic surgery patients seen in consultation with other health care providers.
• Promote patient care programs for the cardiothoracic surgery patient and periodically update them based upon current and new concepts, research, as well as findings of the attending physician.
• Integrates the activities of the cardiothoracic surgery service with other patient care programs at the facility.
• Manage a task force for Quality Assurance within the cardiothoracic section.
• Role of coordinating holistic care in the inpatient and outpatient realms requiring significant skills involving independent identification of problems, issues, conflicts or barriers to uneventful patient care.
• Conduct problem solving to formulate a patient care plan to avoid these issues preoperatively while coordinating with social work.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with social work, rehabilitation, medical, and dietary services throughout the facility to result in improved efficient patient care.

Clinical Practice - Surgical Intensive Care

• Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and cost in planning and delivering care.
• Obtains history, physical examination, and assessment of ongoing patient needs through effective use of the nursing process to make practice decisions in an ethical manner.
• Orders and interprets routine laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and radiographic tests.
• Performs diagnostic and stabilization procedures as necessary based on ACLS.
• Collaborates with respiratory therapy and nursing for airway management and ventilator weaning.
• Writes orders for laboratory work, medications, and treatments in compliance with hospital policies.
• Communicates with Surgical Service physicians' patient problems and status updates.
• Participates in and prepares discharge planning needs for SICU patients through communication with team members, patients, families, and consultants.
• Documents relevant laboratory data, study results, patient care, pertinent procedures, and patient updates within notes.
• Demonstrates competence with placement and removal of enteral feeding tubes, central venous catheters, arterial lines, swan ganz catheters, sutures, drains/tubes.
• Assists with and performs invasive procedures including, central lines, arterial lines, bronchoscopy, PEG tube placement, and percutaneous tracheostomy.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other members of the health care team using effective communication and interpersonal skills to develop, promote, and maintain interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Identifies 'at risk' individuals in need of referrals.
• Maintains accurate, timely medical records.
• Participates in performance measures through documentation and data collection/reporting.
• Assists in investigation and documentation of patient issues and concerns.
• Identifies individual differences as related to the physiological, cultural, and psychological aspects of maturational development.
• Bases ones practice on research and participates in clinical research projects.
• Demonstrates ability to multi-task and prioritize patient care needs.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Travel: Required. You may be expected to travel Up to 15% for this position.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 dentification 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 trial 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 the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial 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.

***Preferred Experience***: PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN CARDIAC SURGERY & ENDOSCOPIC VEIN HARVESTING(EVH) is Highly Desirable to ensure immediate contribution to cardiovascular surgical procedures. 5 years or more post fellowship experience. Board Certification.
Grade Determinations: VN-03
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is Physician Assistant - 3 (PA-3).
The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the PA-3.
Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)
(a) Experience and Education.
PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multidisciplinary 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:
i. Three years of successful practice as a PA.
OR
ii. 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
iii. 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.
(b) 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:
i. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
ii. 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).
iii. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
iv. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
v. 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.
vi. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.
Physical Requirements: Standing, walking, lifting light loads, assisting patients with positioning and transfers. Must be able to use a computer to input orders, review reports etc. Must be able to communicate directions and patient orders. Light lifting (under 15lbs), light carrying (under 15lbs), use of fingers, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid permitted), emotional stability, mental stability, working closely with others, working alone, and working with biohazardous materials.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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