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The Physician Assistant (PA) is directly accountable to the Section Chief of the TeleNeurosurgery/Pain Team. Physician Assistant will spend a majority of time completing pre-procedural history and physician exams, managing stable outpatient patients and completing administrative tasks in the TeleNeurosurgery/Pain section of Division of Rehabilitation Services. 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: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-8 Physician Assistant Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (4 hours), both legs required (may be compensated by prothesis), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, hearing aid permitted, other: must possess emotional and mental stability ["The PA has completed the necessary educational preparations in order to: engage in primary health care decision making; obtain advanced competencies and skills for assessing physical and psychosocial health/illness status of individuals, families and groups; promote health maintenance and protection against disease; and, manage the care of patients/clients within the scope of preparation and accountability. This knowledge includes understanding changes associated with chronic pain. The PA possesses a high degree of knowledge, skill, and competence in acute and chronic disease management. The PA provides leadership in the application of process to client care, organizational processes, and/or system to improve outcomes at the program, service, or organizational level. The PA is adept at interpersonal skills, working closely with all members of the interdisciplinary team and leading these treatment teams as assigned. Within the scope of practice, the PA is accountable for the provision of care/services to enrolled patients. These patients include those with poorly controlled chronic illnesses who benefit from care coordination. The PA in collaboration with primary care physicians provides medical direction to the team and recommends adjustments to the treatment plan for the purpose of improving the patient's control of chronic illness. Incumbent serves as an agent of the supervising physician regarding prescriptive authority. Prescriptive authority will be delineated within the PA's individual scope of practice team. Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical: (Primary Duties) 1. Function as an active member of the Pain Team for the management of general pain services in keeping with good clinical practice and standards of the Division of Rehabilitation Services. 2. Primary focus of practice is the clinical management of health care for patients in the pain section by utilizing approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols in their application to the pain patient population in all settings. 3. Manage and coordinate tests, labs, imaging, procedure, and consultations as needed. 4. Perform histories and physicals on patients as needed. 5. Promotes and participates in the delivery of patient and family health and pain education. 6. Act as a liaison between appropriate subspecialty providers, case managers and primary care for patients in need of neurosurgical procedures. 7. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant to the specialty and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff. 8. Other duties as assigned and deemed necessary to meet the needs of the Medical Center. Administrative: 1. As licensed independent practitioners, the PA is authorized to write medical orders on patients assigned to the facility for care. All orders, progress notes, consultation requests, and history and physical examinations which are written by the PA will clearly be identified as such in the electronic medical records. Maintain compliance with the Medical Staff bylaws and will complete all assigned clinical notes and encounters in the electronic medical records in a timely fashion. Additional Administrative duties may include a. Act as a resource for outpatient pain consults, assessing patient priority for evaluation scheduling. b. Monitors and maintains consult tracking. c. Maintaining pain database and monitors laboratory evaluations for the outpatient pain team population. d. Arranges for pain team or neurosurgery procedures and interventions required by various specialty providers/ services for continuation of care by that provider or specialty service i.e., radiology, surgical, transplant services. e. Oversee scheduling of the outpatient pain clinics with resolution of scheduling conflicts. f. Any other task assigned by the supervisor (generally the section chief of Pain or the medical center) Education/Research: 1. Participates, directs, and provides opportunities for staff development through in-service education as needed. 2. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in pain management. 3. Participates in pain team education when appropriate. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4pm EST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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