The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) Behavioral Health Care Line is seeking a qualified Psychiatric Mental Health Physician Assistant to provide psychiatry services as part of the Outpatient Mental Health (OMH) multidisciplinary setting, team members include, Psychiatrists and highly skilled Advance Practice Providers (NP/PA). The OMH program's primary mission is to provide psychiatric evaluation and treatment to a general outpatient population.

Duties

The incumbent uses advanced clinical judgment and evidence-based treatment strategies to provide care to Veterans acute or chronic mental illness including treatment with psychotropic medications, brief psychotherapy, crisis intervention, case management and consultation with other mental health professionals. The incumbent should have experience in working with patients who have a variety of mental health conditions. This position requires prescriptive authority, Preferred experience includes completion of a formal psychiatric PA residency, or PA certification of added qualification in psychiatry (CAQ) in order to perform the full scope of the position. Duties include but are not limited to: Functioning as part of a psychiatric care team working with other advanced practice providers, physicians, mental health and physical health providers, nurses and/or other support staff. Provides high quality and efficient care and be able to work well in an interdisciplinary team setting. The incumbent uses advanced clinical judgment and evidence-based treatment strategies to provide care to Veterans with acute or chronic mental illness including treatment with psychotropic medications, brief psychotherapy, case management and consultation with other mental health professionals. Initiates appropriate and timely treatment. Prescribes medications according to outpatient formulary. Provides direct, short-term, crisis intervention, grief work and brief psychotherapy. Counsels patients on smoking, alcohol and/or other substance cessation. Records data from clinic visit, including chief complaints, active problems, medications, physical findings and results of diagnostic tests. Promptly and completely reports changes in patient status. Maintains clear, accurate, and current clinical records. Completes medical records per hospital regulations. Provides patient education of medical/mental health conditions, preventive measures and prescribed treatments. Acts as a consultant in involving patients in the treatment and management plan. Works as mentor, preceptor, consultant, and researcher; in collaboration with other health care professionals to accomplish patient, service and hospital goals, and expected to precept NP and PA students and residents. The incumbent should have experience working with patients who have a variety of mental health conditions in a variety of settings. Physician Assistants who have completed a psychiatric residency and/or have a Psychiatry Certification of added Qualification will have first consideration. The incumbent will report directly to the OMH clinic supervisor. ***This position requires prescriptive authority Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: May be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Discloser 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: 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 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/113, Part II, Appendix G2.

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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Daniel Aliceacotto
• Phone: 505-519-3391
• Email: [email protected]