Duties

Summary

A Senior level Physician Assistant provides direct patient care at an appropriate level of competence and independence. The programmatic responsibility for Senior level Physician Assistant is unique and differs from person to person. The individual performs a variety of clinical activities and functions. The individuals' professional practice is characterized by assignments in clinical, administrative, educational and/or research areas.
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Responsibilities

SCOPE OF PRACTICE
The Cardiothoracic Surgery section Physician Assistant will be responsible for the primary medical and surgical needs of inpatients and outpatients on the CT surgery service. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of current medical and surgical problems, administrative assistance, quality assurance and educational support as detailed below.

The Scope of Practice detailing clinical responsibilities must be developed and will be updated consistent with VA guidelines for the utilization of physician assistants (MP-5, Part II, Chapter 2, Change 2, Appendix H, dated March 12, 1993 or most recent). The PA scope of practice is made part of the functional statement.

CLINICAL PRACTICE
Provide medical and surgical care for both inpatients and outpatients in the Cardiothoracic Surgery section. The Senior Grade Physician Assistants assists in managing patients that often have complex medical problems and are multi-symptomatic. The Physician Assistant shall coordinate patient care programs based upon the admitting chief complaint and may perform the following duties:

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS, SENIOR GRADE, CT SURGERY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
1. First assists with adult cardiac surgery including Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), transplant and thoracic program.
2. Performs radial artery and saphenous vein harvesting.
3. Performs chest tube insertion, thoracentesis, central line placement, and balloon pump removal.

ROUTINE CLINICAL DUTIES
1. Admission History and physicals, admission orders, aftercare plans and discharge summaries.
2. Provide medical education /counseling of patients and their families.
3. Primary responsibility for admissions and medical care of patients when the resident on the service is absent.
4. Assist the surgeon in the operating room, including prepping and draping, and first or second assist in surgery.
5. Promote patient care programs for the Department of CT Surgery and periodically update them based upon current and new concepts, research as well as findings of the attending physician.
6. Integrates the activities of the CT Surgery service with other patient care programs at the facility.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS
1. Evaluates CT Surgery Consults and determines the appropriate disposition, routing and priority of those consults.
2. Facilitates access to the CT Surgery team for other Health Care Providers.
3. Participates in quality assurance program with a multi-disciplinary group-developing criterion for administrative goals in the section.
4. Individual will function as an assistant for CT Surgery outpatient clinics. Responsibilities will include:
a. Scheduling surgeries through appropriate channels during designated block times, notification of scheduled cases to Attending, OR personnel and secure post operative bed assignment.
b. Ensure PA representation during clinical appointment visits for both pre-op and FU patients
5. Individual will assist with clinical care of CT Surgery patients on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).

EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
As the Senior Level Physician Assistant, the incumbent is responsible for the
following educational assignments:
1. Develops and implements in-service training as directed by the Chief of CT Surgery.
2. Serves as a resource for the surgical service nursing staff, medical students and residents regarding patient care in the Outpatient CT Surgery Clinics.

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS
The CT Surgery section physician assistant shall participate in merit-reviewed, approved research projects to develop publishable material for appropriate professional journals. Activities may include the following:
1. Selection of appropriate patient for participation in clinical research studies; obtaining informed consent for participation in approved studies; obtaining and analyzing data; preparing data for publication.
2. May serve as sub investigator and clinical coordinator for clinical research trials.

SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION
Station-level practice will be consistent with the Medical Center Memorandum (MCM) 11-4, Non-Physician practitioners, Advanced Practice Nurses/Physician Assistants/Doctor of Pharmacy-Utilization, Supervision and Scope of Practice." The Physician Assistant is clinically responsible to the Chief of CT Surgery and the Chief of the Surgical Service. They retain administrative, clinical and disciplinary responsibility for the performance evaluation, time and attendance, assuring clinical practice complies with the scope of practice and clinical protocols and privileges for the Physician Assistant.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 0800 to 5:30pm, with evening/night/weekend call required.
Financial Discloser Report: Not required

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Designated and/or random drug testing required
• 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 a background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination

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 Required Qualifications (Per Handbook 5005) Physician Assistant

• Must be a citizen of the United States. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• The Physician Assistant is a graduate of a PA training program, which is certified by CAHEA. Additionally, the Physician Assistant must maintain current certification by NCCPA. Clinical and administrative competence and skills are evidenced by postgraduate experience in progressively more complex patient assignments over at least four years. Individual maintains credentialing for procedural assignments.
• At least one-year experience with CT Surgical Section.

Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 USC 7402(d), 7407(d). Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of at least two years of successful practice as a Physician Assistant providing medical care to patients
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with other disciplines
• Demonstrated excellence in written/verbal communication and time management
• Demonstrated ability to use computer systems in support of patient care delivery
Cardio/Thoracic Surgery experience with Operating Room experience strongly preferred.

Preferred Level of Education Physician Assistant
Masters in Physician Assistant Preferred Certification(s) BLS
References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G

Physical Requirements: The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring Veterans and objects may be required. May be required to don protective equipment in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. Responsible for the reprocessing of reusable medical equipment, according to the medical center policies. Required to use available safe patient handling lifting devices in all clinical areas. May also be exposed to Veterans who are combative, secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume (REQUIRED)

VA Form 10-2850C can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search . (REQUIRED)

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.