The Cardiology Physician Assistant position is located within Specialty Care Medicine at the Phoenix VA Healthcare System (PVAHCS), Phoenix, AZ. The Physician Assistant reports to the Chief of the Cardiology Section and the Chief of Medicine. This position requires that the Cardiology PA has the working knowledge of outpatient and the various consultative services.

Duties

The Cardiology Physician Assistant (PA) is responsible for the care and administrative needs of the patients in both the inpatient and outpatient setting of the Cardiology division. The PA also functions as a coordinator between the attending physician and the other team members of the division. The PA will also be directly responsible to the Chief of Cardiology for all clinical and administrative duties. The Cardiology PA provide medical for both inpatients and outpatients in the Cardiology section. The PA shall coordinate patient care programs based upon the admitting chief complaint and shall perform the following duties: 1. Carry out health promotion and disease prevention activities including education and shared decision-making. 2. Complete face-to-face consults to appropriate referrals as warranted. All consults, including e consults, tele-cardiology consults. 3. Obtain consent and document procedures performed for which the PA is responsible. 4. Initiate and expedite requests for consultations and scheduling special tests and studies. 5. Obtain cultures. 6. Order diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs), etc. including HIV tests and cultures and evaluate results of such tests. 7. Perform initial/periodic histories and physical examinations on new inpatients and/or outpatients, nursing home and/or domiciliary residents, and tele-cardiology consult referral patients. These will be reviewed by the supervising physician, who will note concurrence or addendum as indicated. 8. Prescribe expendable and non-expendable medical supplies, equipment, and prosthetics without countersignatures. 9. Provide education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs. 10. Provide and coordinate comprehensive outpatient care for assigned patients. 11. Request imaging studies including x-rays, ultrasound, and CT scans. 12. Perform stress tests. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education or Training. The candidate must meet the following: (1) Graduate of a PA 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; Bachelor's degree in any discipline with on year of experience as a PA. Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Licensure. 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 OR be a graduate physician assistant pending licensure. 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), and 7407(d). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard effective 9/27/2020 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-I. a. Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. 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: 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. 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 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: 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. 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: 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. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records. 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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over): Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Diana Bacey
• Phone: 775-328-1470
• Email: [email protected]