This Physician Assistant position is under the general supervision of the Rehab and Extended Care, Associate Chief of Staff. Staff within the REC Integrated Care Clinic are expected to provide inter-professional services to Black Hills Health Care facilities. Services provided by REC staff are conducted via multiple modalities, including virtual and in-person care. There is one (1) position that can be located at Hot Springs, Rapid City or Fort Meade.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. A. Clinical Functions: Incumbent will provide direct patient care full time and work as a member of an expanded healthcare team (e.g. psychologist, social worker, physical therapist, clinical pharmacists, behavioral health clinician, and a care manager) to oversee and coordinate medical care for a population of Veterans in a group practice setting utilizing the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain Care" and "VA Stepped Care Model of Pain Care model. Major Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: 1. Provides comprehensive pain care for Veterans via TeleHealth or in-person. 2. Perform initial histories and physical examination on outpatients using TeleHealth and/or face-to-face visits. 3. Provide ongoing pain care for assigned patients 4. Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice 5. Utilizes evidence-based approach to medication management for chronic and acute pain. 6. Provides evidence-based approach to medication management for Veterans with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). 7. Order and interpretation of diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) 8. Review opioid safety metrics (e.g., PDMP, drug screening, STORM reviews). 9. Obtains consent for long term opioid therapy. 10. Initiates, respond to, and expediate request for consultations, special tests and studies 11. Provide education and counseling of patients and families in pain self-management, active treatment modalities, and use of prescribed treatments and medications. 12. Serve as an attending/teaching physician for pain medicine residents/students as assigned. Clinical Responsibilities: 1. May occasionally perform interventional pain medicine procedures in designated VA facilities as part of a balanced, data-driven, multi-disciplinary treatment plan, in accordance to current licensing and standards of care. 2. Provides electronic consultation services. 3. Performs pain management comprehensive assessments and develops treatment plans for complex acute and chronic pain patients. 4. Manages opioid medications and performs opioid tapers and detoxification when necessary. Complies with current VA/DOD Long-term Opioid Therapy Guidelines, and local BLACK HILLS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM policies. 5. Treats patients with chronic and acute pain. 6. Develops therapeutic care plans that are intended to achieve defined outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life. 7. Works as part of an interdisciplinary team of pain management providers. 8. Initiates, modifies, or discontinues medication therapies and serves as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. 9. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests, other diagnostic studies and registries necessary to monitor and support medication therapy. 10. Follows up with patients regarding laboratory or other diagnostic test results to discuss care plans, changes to therapy and additional monitoring or testing requirements. 11. Evaluates and reports adverse outcomes via local VA standard reporting processes. 12. Documents all TelePain management activities, including therapeutic changes and recommendations, in progress notes and completes encounters per VHA standards to ensure workload capture. Work Schedule: 7:30 to 4:00 Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Eligible Telework: Eligible, Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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) (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. Preferred Experience: Pain Management 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: (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 patientcare 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 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: 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 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 1 to 3. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Determined by the position.

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 VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Todd Otterberg
• Phone: 605-347-2511 X7380
• Email: [email protected]