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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Physician Assistant (Cardiology) Near Memphis, TN

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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:

(1) Master's degree in any discipline;
OR
(2) 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). NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA.
• 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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Experience and Education.
In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

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.

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.
ii. 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.

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.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care. This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. This position requires moving about accomplish tasks, such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next. This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position. Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next, i.e.- from the exam table to the chair, and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Responsibilities:

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• The Physician Assistant (PA) - Cardiology is a clinician dedicated to delivering care for cardiology inpatient and ambulatory patients; the primary area of responsibility will involve clinical performance and documentation of health care delivery for Veterans according to VHA standards.
• The Cardiology PA examines and assesses cardiology clinic outpatients and is responsible for participating in all aspects of care for the cardiology patient, some general medicine patients, cardiology telemedicine patients, and pacemaker and implantable cardiac defibrillator interrogation and programming.
• Responsibilities include diagnosis, management, treatment, telephone consultation, patient triage, telemedicine, and cardiac device-related problems. The Cardiology PA works in close collaboration with Attending Cardiologists, Cardiology Fellows, other Cardiology RNPs, Cath/EP Lab RNs, and support staff.
• This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility in their area of expertise to assume clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties under the supervision of the collaborating physician.
• The PA practices cardiology with a focus on preventative care, screenings, and inpatient and outpatient specialty clinical care. Approximately 90% of the PA's time is dedicated to developing and maintaining an interdisciplinary approach to the care of cardiology patients.
• Various and diverse ambulatory clinic locations mean that the PA's assessment skills and breadth of knowledge must be superior. In addition, the PA must be a highly effective communicator to negotiate with consultants at the VAMC regarding the triaging of patients referred if applicable.
• The Cardiology PA assesses patients, performs histories and physicals, orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiates consults and referrals, prescribes medications, and formulates, initiates, and evaluates health care teaching for cardiac patients and their families. In addition to seeing patients in the clinic, the Cardiology PA may be required to also perform exercise treadmill tests and supervise the medical portion of cardiac nuclear stress tests.
• Provide comprehensive guideline-directed evidence-based care to patients with heart diseases including coronary artery disease (CAD) and structural heart interventions.
• Manages cardiology consults by reviewing, triaging, and completing consults including electronic cardiology consults.
• Order appropriate diagnostic procedures and acts on results.
• Prescribes individualized pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of CAD and structural heart concerns and related medical problems for the promotion of quality of life, wellness, and improved outcomes as demonstrated by reduction of hospitalizations and/or urgent care visits.
• Educate patients, significant others, and affiliated medical center staff on health care issues (i.e. medications, diet, lifestyle changes and follow-up).
• Facilitate the completion of informed consent prior to the procedure.
• Admits and discharges patients to OBS units, outpatient or inpatient status post invasive/interventional cardiac procedures.
• Collaborates with the patients, cardiology staff and other stakeholders to arrange for the safe and effective performance of planned procedures, i.e. including coronary angiograms, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its variants, computed tomography angiography (CTAs) and other related imaging procedures, structural heart disease interventions (e.g. percutaneous valve procedures, left atrial appendage device (LAAO) implant, patient foramen ovale (PFO) closures, closure of shunts and leaks, Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). There will always be a need to learn and participate in managing new additional procedures that are periodically added to the program to enhance the care of veterans.
• Is accessible to answer patient questions pre and post-procedure in person, by phone call, or telemedicine if needed
• Collaborate with multiple other disciplines including primary care, hospice, palliative care, and nephrology.
• Other Clinical duties assigned by the collaborating physician or the supervisor.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be eligible for highly qualified applicants.

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. Learn more.

Job Summary