This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required The General Surgery Physician Assistant (PA) provides care and management of the patient with acute and chronic general surgical complaints, in collaboration with General Surgery staff, residents and fellows at all VISN facilities. Their areas of responsibility encompass: General Surgery Clinics, including Pre-Operative and Post-Operative Evaluations, as well as areas outside those sites as required for care, consultation and collaboration with patients, their families, nursing staff, physicians, multidisciplinary staff, and other healthcare team members regarding the surgical care and the needs of patients with acute and chronic general surgical disorders. This PA may also take call for general surgery and do ER and emergency consultations. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Evaluates and triages all general surgery consults and discusses pre-clinic plan with appropriate surgeon. If workup is indicated, orders and coordinates testing (laboratory, radiology &/or GI endoscopy/colonoscopy). Communicates plan to patient and arranges for clinic appointments, Defender's lodge when necessary. Follows up on testing & brings patient to clinic when workup is complete. Rounds with the service and provides inpatient care in coordination with the team. When resident is unavailable due to teaching conferences will serve as the primary clinical resource for inpatient wards and consults. Conducts virtual and face to face clinic visits on general surgery patients during clinic and may independently see patients as needed on a non- clinic day. Follows cancer care protocols from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in the clinical evaluation and follow-up of patients. Prepare cancer patient charts for the clinic. Collaborates with general surgery team on inpatient discharge planning. Performs histories and physical examinations and writes outpatient/inpatient pre-operative and postoperative orders. Obtains informed consents. Schedules surgeries and diagnostic procedures as directed by the physician. Initiates consults to other medical and surgical services, outpatient nursing clinic, social work, hospice. Attends radiology conferences and tumor boards. Responds to patient phone calls and secure messaging. Provides customer service appropriate to VA standards.

Requirements

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. Grade Determinations: Grade 9 (Full Grade): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, individuals appointed to this grade must meet all the following requirements: None beyond the basic requirements in paragraph 2 of this standard. Grade 11 (Intermediate Grade): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Full Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Intermediate Grade will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems and meet the following requirements: 1 year of professional practice as a PA; or Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or A Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Grade 12 (Senior Grade): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Intermediate Grade through VA employment or non-VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Individuals appointed or advanced to Senior Grade will have demonstrated the behaviors or responsibilities listed in one or more of the following categories: Clinical Proficiency, Education, Professional Development, Management/Administrative, and Research, as applicable to the assignment. 3 years of professional practice as a PA; or 2 years of professional practice as a PA and successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Forces; or 2 years of professional practice as a PA and a Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or A Doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. Grade 13 (Chief Grade): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet all requirements described in this standard for Senior Grade through VA employment or non- VA PA positions with equivalent scope and complexity. Appointment or promotion to Chief Grade is based on the individual's demonstrated high level of clinical expertise, leadership ability, and the ability to function with a high degree of autonomy. Further, the PA candidate for Chief Grade will have demonstrated all the requirements of one or more of the following categories: Management/Administrative, Clinical Proficiency, Professional Development and Research. Generally, an individual in this grade is able to demonstrate the behaviors listed in the areas below after 5 years of professional practice as a PA; and, The minimum education for this grade is a Master's Degree from a PA training program accredited by ARC-PA or in a health-related field of study. However, experience as a PA may be substituted for the Master's degree where the individual has an equivalent knowledge of the profession and has successfully undertaken a combination of difficult or complex assignments in several clinical, administrative, research and educational arenas which required a high-degree of competence. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-8 Physician Assistant Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is Grade 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Grades 9 to 12. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long 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 or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients 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 patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Fernando Ochoa
• Phone: 4152214810
• Email: [email protected]