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.
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: Experience in Home Based Primary Care or experience in Geriatric care is preferred. 3 years of experience working with Veteran patient population is preferred. VHA experience of 3 years or more. Grade Determinations: 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 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: 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 03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 02 to 03. Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. The selected candidate should be physically and mentally capable to perform the duties of the position. Physical activity includes sitting, standing (up to 2hours), walking (up to 2 hours), bending and reaching.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Major Duties: Assessing wounds, ordering wound care, providing assessment for wound care healing, and providing wound care when necessary. Performing diabetic foot assessment and providing diabetic foot care to include trimming of toenails and fingernails when needed May assess for and remove cerumen impactions using curettage technique and/or the use of saline or water flushing. May delegate to the Home Based Primary Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) certain procedures and assessments as is allowed under the LPN or RNs Scope of Practice. May pick up from a pharmacy and deliver medications to outpatients. In addition, may set up the medications in a medicine planner that is appropriate to the patient's home situation. May change the dosages of medications and write the changes on the medicine bottles in the home and on the patient medical records in CPRS. May review for accuracy and sign home health orders in accordance with VHA and Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) regulations. Managing HBPC patients by conducting home visits to observe and record patients' medical progress, updating and summarizing medical records, participating in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the plan of care. May participate in HBPC care planning conferences and assist the team in formulating a plan of care for HBPC patients and provide notification to the patients and/or families whenever there is a significant change in a patient's status. Provide dementia care, evaluation and management of wounds, and perform complex care management in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams (including palliative and end-of-life care, home visits, comprehensive geriatric assessments, and telemedicine). Assist the HBPC team in implementing local HBPC policies and procedures to include performance development, patient safety, utilization review, emergency procedures, and staff safety. Determine appropriateness of patients for admission into HBPC Program. Collaborate in the development of patient treatment plans based on a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment of the patient and the caregiver. Implement the patient's medical and psychosocial treatment plan through home visits, as needed. Review the patient's progress and update the lDT as a team at regular intervals, initial, routine or when there is a change in the patient's condition. Assess the patient's continuing need for HBPC care, and plan for HBPC discharge when indicated. Assist with the completion of medical forms for patients assigned to HBPC that require a Physician's signature. Serves as a liaison for veterans, members of the community, and VA providers to provide education/promotion of Geriatric services available. Assist in the response to any identified action items in HBPC. May initiate, facilitate, and coordinate transfers of veterans to an alternate level of care within the VHA system or outside facility if desired. Participate in data collection for quality improvement initiatives conducts clinical audits, collects delay of care information, chart reviews, peer reviews. Collaborate with HBPC team to identify patients at greatest risk for polypharmacy-associated medical complications and modify plan of care as needed. Assess clinical need and refer veterans to Specialty Clinics for evaluation & treatment recommendations Administrative duties such as quality management/performance improvement, peer review, scheduling, infection control, the Joint Commission, VERA, consults, staffing, and serving on various committees and other non-clerical tasks May serve on LEAN project, root cause analysis committee, or participate in morbidity and mortality meetings. Provide a resource for physician assistants and administrative staff as a member of the Oklahoma City VA HCS Physician Assistant Professional Standards Board (PA-PSB). Additional duties that all could not be listed Work Schedule: Full Time, Mon - Fri; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Yes; This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has not been authorized as a virtual or remote. Location negotiable may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return To Office requirement. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact David Billingsley at david.billingsleyjr@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov.