This position is located in the PCS Ambulatory Care South Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. The Telehealth Physician Assistant position is a clinical position that is accountable to the Tele-Primary Care Clinical Director, providing PC CRH services to remote sites in VISN 17 and VHA.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. You will perform initial histories and physical examinations on outpatients. History and physical examinations will mostly rely on the use of CVT technology, but some direct face-to-face visits will also be needed. The supervising physician will review and counter sign at least 10% of all progress notes. You will provide ongoing outpatient and inpatient care for assigned patients. Screen outpatients to determine need for further care. Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice. Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms(EKGs). Review need for an order health promotion and disease prevention activities. Initiate, respond to, and expedite requests for consultations, special tests, and studies. Provide education and counseling of patients and families in preventative care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and medications. You may sometimes need to work alone, but can request assistance from other medical staff (including other telehealth primary care staff, as well as staff in the emergency room or inpatient service at the nearest VA Medical Center when needed.) Shifts may occasionally deviate from the usual 8 AM to 4:30 PM shift schedule. The facility is fully computerized and computer skills are required. Special training will be provided to utilize CVT technology. There is minimal administrative work, but you will be required to attend the staff meetings, team meetings, some committee meetings, and complete some peer review evaluations. Time will be provided outside of assigned shifts to complete this workup. You will provide direct patient care full-time and work as a member of an expanded healthcare team (social worker, clinical pharmacist, behavioral health clinician, and nurse care manager) to oversee and coordinate medical care for a population of veterans in a group practice setting utilizing the Patient Aligned Care Team model. Health administration service and nursing staff will usually be provided by the remote clinic location/facility. The practice emphasizes evidence-based medicine, primary and secondary preventative medicine, the use of a computerized medical record system, and continuous quality improvement based on individualized provider data. Work Schedule:Full-time Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Must be located within the local commuting area of any VISN 17 Health Care System Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit position.

Requirements

Qualifications

Physician Assistant Basic Requirement: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).] Education/Experience: 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 the following: Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~ Certification: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ Licensure: 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: -Minimum 3 years of Primary Care healthcare provider experience. -Minimum 1 year of VA Primary Care healthcare provider experience. -Minimum 1 year of Telehealth healthcare experience. 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) 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 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: 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) 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 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: The position requires light to moderate lifting (up to 44 pounds), use of fingers, walking (4-6 hours), standing (4-6 hours), near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid permitted).

Education

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

NOTE - Accreditation Information: Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Accreditation Review Commission on Education of Physician Assistant.
NOTE - School name: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
NOTE - Previous Accreditation: If your school was accredited by at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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 VHA VISN 17 Hub - Temple 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]