Physician Assistant - Gastroenterology

The Gastroenterology PA-C responsibilities include managing patients and working in conjunction with and under supervision of the Gastroenterologist to provide specialty care services in the Gastroenterology clinic, specialty clinic, infusion clinic and ambulatory surgery.

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.

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.

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)

• Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PA's
• 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, US Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency
  • OR
  • A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the US Department of Education.
• 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-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 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, US Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency 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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Responsibilities:

Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Evaluate consultations and discusses with the gastroenterologist recommendations regarding work up, management, and follow up.
- Routine follow up of outpatient gastroenterology patients, ordering labs, imaging studies and follow ups. The PA-C will be alerted to abnormal labs and imaging studies and bring them to the attention of the appropriate provider.
- Routine follow up and management of gastroenterology clinic patients.
- Refills medications related to gastroenterology disorders.
- Coordinate endoscopies with anesthesia, Impact clinic, and gastroenterologist and/or surgeons.
- Answers Secure Message emails from the patients as well as taking calls from patients and their families.
- Assists with obtaining non-VA medical records before the patient is scheduled in the Gastroenterology Clinic if the patient is transferring care to the VA.
- Screens gastroenterology consults to arrange a timely scheduling of patients and their care.
-Order labs, renewing medication refills as needed prior to the clinic appointment.
- Act as the point of contact for patients and their families if they need help with scheduling appointments, referrals or help navigating through the VA system.
- Consultations with attending physicians and others, when requested, to augment the care of patients.
- Referral to appropriate health care practitioners of patients with medical, surgical, and/or psychiatric conditions not covered by privileges.
- Managing transfers into and out of the facility.
-Coordinating hand-off communication after hours
-Writing Orders for or prescribing medications:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
.

Salary : $97,247