The physician assistant (PA) is responsible for the care and administrative needs of mental health patients on the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). The PA also functions as a coordinator between the attending physician and the other team members including nurses, PMH NPs, psychologists, social workers, trainees, and other unit personnel. This position provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management of an assigned panel of patients.

Duties

The SARRTP PA will be responsible for the primary medical needs of patients on SARRTP clinic. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of current psychiatric and medical problems, administrative assistance, quality assurance, research, and educational support as detailed below. The Scope of Practice detailing clinical responsibilities must be developed and will be updated consistent with VHA Directive 1063, Utilization of Physician Assistant. A. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES Provide medical care and evaluation for inpatients on the SARRTP clinic. These patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic. The PA-C may perform the following duties: Conduct medical history and physical exams; order labs, imaging, medications, procedures, specialty consultations, etc., as clinically indicated; provide follow-up care to re-evaluate acute medical conditions; adjust medications and monitor responses; proceed with additional work-up as clinically indicated. Provide health education /counseling and supportive therapy to patients and their families. Perform examinations and screening scales (such as AIMS, HAM-D, PAWSS) and similar non-invasive examinations specific to the ongoing care of SARRTP or HPACT patients. Mixing and starting IV (intravenous) solutions and administering IV medications as clinically indicated. Ordering appropriate prosthetic devices and medical equipment as clinically indicated. Recording notes on all patient encounters within the required time-period. Support and enhance the mission and goals of the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. Work effectively with others to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups, and establish relationship with professional and/or related groups within the community. Develop a professional practice by leadership and accomplishments in the development and implementation of best-practice guidelines in the patient care and healthcare delivery. Demonstrate ability to function independently in advanced leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills. B. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS Facilitates access to the SARRTP medical, nursing, and psychotherapy staff. Participates in quality assurance program with a multi-disciplinary group-developing criterion for administrative goals in the clinic. Participates in hospital, care line, or program work groups or committees for various professional, facility, or VA needs. Under direction of the Director, Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, prepares and reviews reports, works with Quality Initiatives, and work to achieve performance metrics as described by the VA Central Office, VISN, or the local Medical Center. Supports the VA mission through participation in applicable VA national, VISN, and local quality and process improvement initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to, Performance Measures & Monitors and Systems Redesign/Advanced Clinical Access. This position will work with supervisory and front-line staff in his/her own and other service lines to foster and improve the treatment of patients and communication. C. EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS The incumbent PA is responsible for the following educational assignments: Assists with training medical students, PA students, NP students, medical or psychiatry residents, and fellows. Performs academic didactic or clinical teaching, lectures, or presentations for VA affiliated academic institutions as needed per the PAs training and areas of interest. D. RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS The PA shall participate in merit-reviewed, approved research projects to develop publishable material for appropriate professional journals. Activities may include the following: 1. Selection of appropriate patient for participation in clinical research studies; obtaining informed consent for participation in approved studies; obtaining and analyzing data; preparing data for publication. 2. Participation in regional and national meetings for the advancement of medical knowledge and continuing medical education requirements.

Requirements

Qualifications

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). 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. Exceptions for Graduate PAs. (a) PAs who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PA on a temporary full-time appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (c) Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed PAs currently employed by VA as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: (1) 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. (2) 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 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 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 patient care 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. (3) 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 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: i. Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR ii. 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 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. (b) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/134, Part II, Appendix G8, Physician Assistant Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The position must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position is mostly sedentary but position must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interaction with patients and other services, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, carrying light items and assistance with turning or repositioning patients, and assistance with transferring patients to wheelchairs/ stretchers, if needed, bending and carrying light items. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds.

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 VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Wanda Sato
• Phone: 406-447-7938
• Email: [email protected]