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

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. This position is open for either Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. Please see Nurse Practitioner announcement for application submission and eligibility requirements. The Nurse Practitioner will specialize in pain management, at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. Chronic pain management will be the focus of treatment for veterans presenting with prevalent pain conditions such as back pain, headaches, neuropathic pain, joint pain, cancer, and infectious diseases as well as psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, substance use, and depression. A multidisciplinary team approach assures the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients with chronic pain conditions. Incumbent serves as a member of a multidisciplinary pain team including but not limited to pharmacy, physical therapy, psychiatry, psychology, and physician specialists. This role will provide support and clinical expertise in pain management related issues. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: Collaborate with the client/family to establish physical, mental, cultural and environmental factors that facilitate or impede realistic goals and activities. Conduct and document findings on patients seen in the clinical setting. Determine potential needs for therapeutic changes, diagnostic workups or subspecialty consultation. Order and/or interpret appropriate laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's and reports of other diagnostic studies and procedures. Provide follow-up for evaluation of outcomes of x-rays, laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. Detect and evaluate any significant change in patients' condition, treating as indicated with current evidence-based practice. Review medications for clinical need, simplification and possible drug-drug interactions and adjust as indicated. Prescribe, administer and review/evaluate patient's response to pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment regimens Evaluate outpatients and manage acute and/or chronic illnesses according to the usual scope of care to include attention to maintenance of stable conditions, preventive health care and screening. Formulate diagnostic plans and therapeutic regimen, including possible hospitalizations. Plan, provide and evaluate care that promotes wellness and prevents disease/injury and disability. Assist patient to maintain or improve their current state of health when disability already exists. Assist patients to regain or improve their abilities to cope with states of health and illness. Provide education and counseling of the patient and the patient's family in preventive care, medical conditions and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Maintain phone contact with patients, families and home care agencies as indicated. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 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

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) ~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. Exceptions for Graduate PAs - 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). Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. GRANDFATHERING PROVISION: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Preferred Experience: Prior experience providing chronic pain evaluations and interventions 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: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I): 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): 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-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. Physician Assistant-III (PA-III): 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 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 PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III. Physical Requirements: Compliant with the following physical standards and environmental factors; Heavy lifting, 50 pounds & over. Heavy carrying, 50 pounds & over, Straight pulling (1-2 hours), Pushing (1-2 hours), Walking (2-4 hours), Standing (2-6 hours), Use of fingers, Both hands required, Ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously, Near Vision correctable, Far Vision correctable, Depth perception, Hearing (aide permitted), Work closely with others, as well as, protracted or irregular hours of work, Use stretchers to transfer patients and use patient lifts, if applicable.

Education

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

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:

• 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.

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 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.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Sonia Williams
• Phone: 318-840-6458
• Email: [email protected]