Primary Care Provider - Physician Assistant

Full Job Description

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 Education.

Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations.

Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following: (1) Master's degree in any discipline; OR (2) Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA. Certification.

Initially must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. Licensure.

PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.

Physician Assistant 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.

Additional Requirement: Active, valid State issued driver's license is required.

Preferred Experience: Clinical experience in Primary Care 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: Candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment physical.

Position requires walking, standing, reading typewritten material without strain, ability to hear conversational voice, emotional and mental stability, and working closely with others.

Incumbent may be exposed to blood and body fluids. Must be able to physically respond when needed by prompt appearance at required location.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a health care setting with adequate lighting, heating and cooling. Work may involve exposure to infection and possible contagious diseases.

Standard precautions and isolation techniques will be employed as indicated.

There may be occasion where response to physical and/or verbal abuse by patients requires knowledge gained from ongoing violence in the workplace training. Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

**Driving and travel for Primary Care patient care coverage purposes will be required for this position to clinics throughout the OKC VA Health Care System.

Driving and travel may be up to 75% of the time.** Duties include but are not limited to: Manage medical care for a panel of Veterans enrolled in Primary Care Timely entry and use of the electronic medical record system for documentation, workload capture, alert management, and for review of Veterans' current and future medical care needs Serve as the leader of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Cross-cover for other medical providers as needed throughout the health care system Work in collaboration with PACT members to ensure the overall safety and quality of each Veteran's care Responsible for all performance metrics related to patient quality of care Responsible for positive customer service in all aspects of care Participate in quality improvement, quality assurance, continuous survey readiness, and committee/work groups in collaboration with others Maintain licensures and certifications requisite for credentials and privileges at the OKC VAHCS Meet ethical and professional standards as written in the Medical Staff Bylaws and ensure that work relations are in compliance with facility standards and expectations as written and communicated Work Schedule: Full-time; 8:00am-4:30pm or 8:00am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Supervisory discretion Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position Recruitment/relocation Incentive: May be authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact DAVID.BILLINGSLEYJR@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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.