Open to current VISN 6 employees only. Full time opening for a Physician Assistant (PA) in Occupational Health at the Garner, NC VA. The PA will provide services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and advancement of the VA mission. The PA will provide advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management.
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: Occupational Health experience of 1 year or more and/or Outpatient Primary Care experience of 1 year or more Grade Determinations: 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/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Duties: Occupational health duties may include (but are not limited to): Performs and records history and physical examinations and records data from clinic visits on a regular and ongoing basis in the provision of care within Employee Health to eligible employees or persons in accordance with individual patient needs. Performs a comprehensive patient assessment, including a health history, physical examination and evaluation of deviations from the normal for employees requiring annual surveillance exams such as Police annual exams and DAV van drivers Pre-Employment History and Physical Exams. Performs comprehensive history and physical exam on employees who present with work-related injuries. Coordinates with supervisors as appropriate. Documents care according to policy. Promotes health maintenance through coordination of facility and /or departmental and community resources such as participation in yearly flu vaccine campaign. Develops and initiates a plan of care as appropriate. Contributes to the formation of health care policies that affect the health of patients, employees and their families. Provides health teaching to patients, employees and families and assists patients and employees to become responsible for their own health care through education. Consults other specialties as appropriate. Prescribes medications according to approved formulary, and in accordance with Federal and State Law Orders diagnostic tests, medications, laboratory tests as medically relevant Other duties may be assigned which may include primary care. Primary care is the care delivery to a panel of patients whose main area of responsibility will involve performance of, and documentation of health care delivery for Veterans according to Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) and Durham Primary Care standards. This physician assistant will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System. This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility in his/her area of expertise to assume major clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to Veteran care. Clinical: Primary focus of practice is the independent clinical evaluation of Veterans through their panel of patients including prevention and patient self -management. Comprehensive primary care will be provided to male and female Veterans. Care may be provided in many modalities, from direct face to face care, virtual care (including telephonic, video, secured messaging and others) Promotes, directs, evaluates and is responsible for referral to management of clinical concerns that are found during these evaluations. Functions as a member of a Patient Aligned Care Team, collaborating with clinical and administrative support to provide timely, quality, coordinated care for Veterans. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols in their application to this population in all settings. Collaborates with other health care resources to ensure continuity of care. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant in the area of specialty and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff. May provide coverage in primary care clinics if needed or assigned. May have a panel assigned or may help coverage other panels of patients. May be asked to see same day or 'urgent' patients if needed. Assists with arranging continuity of care across the VHA system as needed. Participates in Quality Improvement activities. Participates and attends medical center committees as assigned by the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) Ambulatory Care Service. Serves as clinical preceptor to approved learners if appropriate/needed. Serves as participant in site Emergency Response team May also be asked to do Environmental Hazard Exam using provided template and or Toxic Exposure Screening