The psychiatry physician assistant I (PA) is responsible for the care and administrative needs of mental health patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The PA also functions on a multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, PMH NPs, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, LMFTs, LPCs, addiction therapists and other clinic personnel.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm Telework: 3 days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties Provide psychiatric evaluations and treatment for both inpatients and outpatients in the mental health wards and/or outpatient clinics. Conduct initial psychiatric evaluations and physical exams on inpatients and outpatients assigned to the service. Establish diagnoses; formulate and implement care plans utilizing evidence-based medicine. Evaluates consultations presenting to the mental health outpatient clinic or acute care setting and determines the appropriate disposition, routing, and urgency of those consults. Admits patients to the psychiatric ward when the patient meets criteria for a voluntary admission. Determine whether a patient meets criteria for an involuntary hospitalization in the outpatient or acute care setting; document and sign Prescribe controlled and non-controlled medications as indicated; monitor for adverse effects; reassess effectiveness at appropriate time intervals and adjust as needed. Order appropriate diagnostic studies including laboratory tests, imaging studies, EKGs (electrocardiograms), and similar noninvasive tests. Carry out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education. Provide mental health counseling and brief therapy of patients and their families. Perform and interpret examinations, screening scales (such as AIMS, MoCA, HAM-D), and similar non-invasive examinations specific to the ongoing care of psychiatric patients. Initiate and expedite consultation requests and schedule special tests and studies as indicated. Provide appropriate follow up care including reassessments of diagnoses and conditions, medication adjustments, and any further tests or consults as indicated. Participate in daily rounds on assigned inpatients; observe and record patient's medical progress and notifying the collaborating physician of significant changes in patient's condition. Provide education and counseling to the patient's family including but not limited to preventive care, medical and mental health conditions, suicide prevention, and treatment interventions. Order appropriate prosthetic devices and medical equipment. Record notes on all encounters for which the PA is responsible. Obtain and document informed consent for voluntary hospitalizations. Order seclusion and restraints in consultation with the collaborating physician. Integrate the activities of the psychiatry clinic/ward with other patient care programs at the facility. Determine when a patient is safe to discharge from the acute care setting; decision to discharge from the psychiatric unit will be in consultation with the collaborating physician; complete the discharge summary for assigned patients; the collaborating physician must write a discharge note or cosign the discharge summary in accordance with Joint Commission standards. Ensure patient has appropriate aftercare plans and follow up visits. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS Participate in hospital, care line, or program work groups or committees for various professional, facility, or VA needs. EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS As the psychiatry inpatient or outpatient physician assistant, the incumbent may be assigned the following educational assignments: Participate in didactic training as directed by the service line. Rotate, for a limited time, to various mental health settings for on-the-job training to enhance the clinician's knowledge and train him or her for cross-coverage as needed by the service line. Conduct educational groups on the inpatient ward. Perform academic didactic or clinical teaching, lectures, or presentations for VA affiliated academic institutions as needed per the PAs training and areas of interest. Attend educational activities to maintain, develop, or increase knowledge, skills, and performance. EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS As the psychiatry inpatient or outpatient physician assistant, the incumbent may be assigned the following educational assignments: Participate in didactic training as directed by the service line. Rotate, for a limited time, to various mental health settings for on-the-job training to enhance the clinician's knowledge and train him or her for cross-coverage as needed by the service line. Conduct educational groups on the inpatient ward. Perform academic didactic or clinical teaching, lectures, or presentations for VA affiliated academic institutions as needed per the PAs training and areas of interest. Attend educational activities to maintain, develop, or increase knowledge, skills, and performance. RESEARCH ASSINGMENTS The psychiatry physician assistant may participate in merit-reviewed, approved research projects to develop publishable material for appropriate professional journals.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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). Grade Determination: 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: September 27, 2020 VA Handbook 5005/134 PART II APPENDIX G8 II-G8-5 i. 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. 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. 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 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. 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: Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care. 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). Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel. 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 Preferred Experience: Mental Health experience preferred. 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 PA3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA1 to PA3. Physical Requirements: Light carrying less than 15 pounds, Use of fingers of at least one hand, Walking 1 hour or less (gait/mobility aid permitted),Standing 1 hour or less (gait/mobility aid permitted),Mostly sitting, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4,Far vision correctable to 20/40,Hearing (aid permitted),Working with hands in water, Working closely with others, Protracted or irregular hours of work.

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 Jack C Montgomery VA Medical Center 1011 Honor Heights Drive Muskogee, OK 74401 US
• Name: Audrey Logan
• Phone: (970) 263-6242
• Email: [email protected]