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

Major Duties: Collaborates with physician to perform age-appropriate history and physical for cardiology patients in the ambulatory (primarily) and inpatient setting (Washington DC hospital) and ambulatory centers. Documents findings, reports and plans of care including needed patient education and appropriate follow up of care in the medical record. Orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to patient's age-specific needs. Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities. Implements interventions to support the patient to regain or maintain physiologic stability, including but not limited to serving in the first assisting role. Monitors the effectiveness of interventions. Facilitates the patient's transition within and between health care settings. E.g. admitting, transferring, and discharging patients. Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members by making appropriate referrals. Facilitates staff, patient, and family decision making by providing educational tools. Provides education on cardiology topics to hospital staff when needed. Assist in cardiology consult management. E-Consults Triaging Inpatient consults/outpatient consults Ensuring timely response and scheduling based upon level of urgency Assists with monitoring clinical productivity and performance levels of clinical service. May engage in research activities. Participates in the QA and process improvement activities of the clinic. Shares in the improvement in quality of patient care through participation in committees, implementation of new trends in nursing or medical care, and by contributing suggestion for improvement in organized delivery of care. Participates in an interdepartmental effort to facilitate a safe environment for staff and patient care. Assists in the training of various levels of health care professionals (students, residents, etc) Develops and maintains relationships with clinic staff, clinic manager, clinic medical director, interdisciplinary patient care teams and other hospital staff to ensure maximizing positive department and employee relationships. Supports and advocates the mission and objectives of the medical center and division and assists in interpreting these patients, visitors and the community. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE The PA will have the opportunity to see new and return patients with cardiovascular related symptoms and/or diseases including chest pain, dyspnea, syncope, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and those with cardiac devices such as rhythm monitors, pacemakers and defibrillators. Other roles include analysis of rhythm recordings and cardiac device analysis, supervising non-invasive testing, participation in diagnostic and interventional testing, such as electrophysiologic studies, ablations and device implant procedures, developing and maintaining protocols/guidelines, and participating in research efforts. Preferred Experience: These duties would include Outpatient device clinic, Inpatient requests for device interrogation, Emergency department requests for device interrogations, assisting anesthesiology staff for needed device interrogation and/or device related care, device related care for walk-in patients, provide MRI related cardiac device interrogations and temporary reprogramming, filling out forms for patients to have MRIs at outside facilities, Outpatient Telephone device clinic, address findings reported by the NCDSP, remote monitoring troubleshooting, call patients back after they call with cardiac device concerns, continuously review ILR remote monitor websites for updated findings, call patients due to findings from ILR remote monitoring data review, communicate with and manage wearable defibrillator patients, coordinate device interrogations for patients having surgeries at outside facilities or providers requesting device interrogation due to patient's having radiation therapy, respond to device related view alerts, respond to secure messages, input patient and device data to the NCDSP for enrollment for VA remote monitoring, cover/scrub into lab procedures when fellow not available to assist, receive training for tech duties and can help cross-cover those elements as well, consent/discharge, coverage for a post-procedure clinic, post procedure wound checks and device checks, ambulatory monitor results review/interpretation/posting, and cover remote arrhythmia and device clinics. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 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. 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: Master's degree in any discipline. OR Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA. Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Licensure. 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. NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. English Language Proficiency. PAs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. 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: Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care. Ability to perform patient history and physical. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession. Physician Assistant-II (PA-II) 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. 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: Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively. Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) 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. 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. 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: Experience with cardiovascular disease care is strongly preferred. Experience with arrhythmia care is strongly preferred. Preference will be given to individuals with experience with cardiac implanted devices and electrophysiology related procedures. 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 VN-03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-01 to VN-03. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; straight pulling - intermittent hours; pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking/standing 8 hours; occasional kneeling; repeated bending; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; specific visual correction to read fine print; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of color; hearing (aid permitted); and mental/emotional stability.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Miranda Walker
• Phone: 1-678-924-5700 X573329
• Email: [email protected]