Job opening: Physician Assistant (Employee Occupational Health)
Salary: $90 937 - 172 702 per year
Published at: Aug 09 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
VHA Eastern Kansas is hiring a full time Physician Assistant for the Employee Occupational Health Department. Eastern Kansas consists of multiple location and clinics. This particular position is located in our Topeka location. Please take the time to read about this position and see if helping our veterans is where your career takes you next. Please reach out to the contact below with any additional questions.
Duties
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
The incumbent is responsible for providing all aspects of Employee Occupational Health services of a multi-division (Topeka/Leavenworth) facility. The Employee Occupational Health Physician Assistant may be asked to provide care in areas as appropriately credentialed.
The Employee Occupational Health Physician Assistant is responsible for providing care to patients in the Employee Occupational Health program, utilizing nationally approved guidelines and standards of care. They will also be required to be proficient in Occupational Health Record System (OHRS). He/she is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs/activities based on assessed learning needs of employees to enhance the employee's personal well-being and in turn improve the effectiveness, productivity, and satisfaction of employees.
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30pm. Can be discussed during the interview process.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.
Basic Requirements:
The candidate must meet the following:
1. Education
a. Graduate of a PA training program or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC_PA) or one of its predecessor organizations (VA Handbook 5005, Staffing, Part II, Appendix II-G38); and
b. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Certification
a. Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by Veterans Affairs (VA) on a temporary basis (38 U.S.C. 7405), for a period not to exceed two years, as provided in VHA Directive 1063(1), amended May 17, 2022. If a PA's National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification is suspended, revoked, or expires, the PA must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment.
b. Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) as provided in VA Handbook 5005, Staffing, Part II, Appendix II-G38, dated September 27, 2020.
3. Physician Assistant appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S>C. 4102(d).
4. Grade Requirements-Full Grade
a. Experience/Education
b. Clinical Competencies
(1) Clinical Proficiency
(a) Provides effective care to patients characterized using sound judgement in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating patient care for assigned patients. This includes possessing the skill and competency to obtain thorough medical histories, perform comprehensive physical examinations, order appropriate diagnostic studies, interpret and analyze medical data, establish diagnoses, formulate, and implement treatment plans, and modify treatment plans when appropriate.
(b) Works effectively and makes appropriate requests for assistance from the assigned physician and recognizes complex patient care situations where referral is appropriate.
(c) References quality improvement information and organizes patient care needs to assure safe, efficient, and cost-effective care.
(d) Initiates effective actions in emergencies.
(2) Professional Development
(a) Obtains additional knowledge and skills appropriate to the practice setting to improve performance.
(b) Provides patient education in an effective manner.
(3) Ethics. Safeguards patient privacy and confidentiality. Provides care in a nonjudgmental, non-discriminatory manner respecting the patient's values and beliefs.
(4) Interpersonal Skills. Works effectively with patients, families, caregivers, and other professional and support personnel.
(5) Research
(a) Demonstrates awareness of research application to practice.
(b) Research medical literature and applies evidenced-based medicine to improve clinical practice.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements:
The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting, repositioning, safely moving patients (over 100 pounds) with assistance as needed; and pushing or pulling heavy objects (over 35 pounds) such as equipment, routinely lifting and carrying small equipment items (less than 35lbs). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform procedures. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
Additional requirements:
Physician Assistant must possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The physician assistant must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician assistant, have completed and accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision.
If selected at that point you will be evaluated by the Physician Assistant Board and provided a salary, grade and step from the board.
Education
Physician Assistant must possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The physician assistant must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician assistant, have completed and accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision.
You must have graduated from an accredited school and or passed your ECFMG Certification.
Here are the grading criteria for each possible grad you could be given:
Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
(b) 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:
i. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
ii. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
iii. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
iv. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.
Physician Assistant-II (PA-II)
(a) 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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:
i. Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency. OR iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
(b) 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: i. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems. ii. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions. iii. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patientcare including telehealth medical care. iv. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. v. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.
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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by Veteran Affairs (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.
(a) 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.
Contacts
- Address VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System
2200 SW Gage Blvd
Topeka, KS 66622
US
- Name: Jeffrey Richter
- Phone: 9137319960
- Email: [email protected]
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