Physician Assistant - Nephrology

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package .

The primary duties are to manage Nephrology care remotely to appropriate patients for the VISN 10 facilities. The provider may accomplish this through a combination of chart review and telehealth visits. The incumbent works as part of a virtual care team, together with patient site care team members, to provide Nephrology services to Veterans. Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT), VA Video Connect (VVC), and e-consults are the primary modalities for treatment, though this position may require occasional travel to VISN medical centers and/or Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs).

This position requires that you live within two hours of either Marion, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana or Chillicothe, Ohio VA facilities as you may be required to provide direct care at one those facility.

The major duties of the position of Physician Assistant - Nephrology includes but is not limited to:

• Provide clinical VISN-level coordination of Nephrology referrals between sites (initiate/answer consults, conduct findings, provide initial and follow up care via VVC facilitate travel/lodging, etc.)
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) with knowledge of specific Nephrology procedures and services completed at all sites.
• Answer e-consults and questions pertaining to the findings.
• Assist with ga-coverage for consult management (internal and referrals) for sites especially with solo Nephrology providers on leave.
• Determine prior treatments attempted and refer for treatments that have not yet been attempted prior to face-to-face care.
• Screen internal consults and complete all work required:

Completes History and Physical (H&P) and review of systems to identity need for additional tests. When face-to-face care is indicated, this will enable the Nephrologist to have the necessary information and update the H&P as needed. Care is mostly via CVT and VVC.

Orders test at home facility such as laboratory and diagnostic studies and procedures.

Assesses results of ordered tests, studies, and procedures and notifies the Veteran of results.

Arranges for virtual or face-to-face visits with Nephrologist as needed.

• Provide a timely review of the medical records of patients referred to Nephrology and evaluates for red flags that indicate a need for urgent referral for community care.
• Initiate, respond to, and expedite requests for consultations and special tests and studies.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, standard daytime hours across multiple time zones. Evenings, weekends and holidays required as necessary based on the needs of the Clinical Resource Hub and spoke sites.
Telework: Available
Remote: This is a remote position. You must live within two hours of the VA facility as you may be required to provide direct care at the facility as stated in announcement.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

• 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.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Grade Determinations:

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)

Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

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.

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.

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.

Preferred Experience:

• Must have experience in Nephrology.

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.

The full performance level of this vacancy is Grade 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 1 to 3.

Physical Requirements: The works mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interact with the patients and other services. This position requires visual acuity, adequate auditory perception, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially extended periods of computer use, virtual care equipment use, sitting and/or standing. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are verbally combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must meet Employee health mandates as a condition of employment.

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 .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .