Duties

Summary

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
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Responsibilities

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION & ASSIGNED DUTIES
Physician Assistant in Mental Health Service shall provide clinical services in the MHSL, primarily in the outpatient general mental health clinic of CBOC/STAUNTON,VA-Salem VAMC. This position can also include CVT (Clinical Video Telehealth to the Staunton CBOC from Salem VAMC) or work onsite at Staunton. The PA provides direct and indirect patient care that includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, and treatment of health problems. In addition to clinical practice, the PA role includes education, research, and consultation. The PA functions within a scope of practice commensurate with training, demonstrated expertise, and licensure. The required services shall be as follows:

Evaluating new patients and following panel of patients in the mental health clinic. This may also involve assisting with same day access in the clinic. PA shall provide the same professional level of care to VAMC patients and/or beneficiaries as to any other patient under his/her care.

PA shall be present at the VAMC, Salem, VA in the MHSL and actually performing the required services as specified in the Scope of Practice.

PA is authorized to perform any duties delegated to him/her by the supervising physician that the PA is credentialed, licensed, and trained to perform and as specified in the Scope of Practice.

PA shall be responsible for sharing occasional on-call coverage for evenings, nights, and weekends.

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES
Work may include some occasional coverage of substance abuse and PTSD treatment in assisting with admission work-ups of Veterans.

Ordering and interpreting appropriate lab, x-ray, and special duties. Establishing a working diagnosis based upon acquired data and developing a treatment plan for surgical and medical conditions in accordance with current practice. Implement therapeutic intervention and provide appropriate follow-up care. Exercise judgment on conditions requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising psychiatrist or other healthcare professionals.

Perform complete intake evaluations on mental health patients in outpatient mental health, and occasional inpatient admission H&Ps.

Evaluate care and order appropriate labs, special studies, diet, and therapeutic interventions required in conjunction with the psychiatrist, formulate and implement planning and clinical follow-up.

Opportunities to evaluate, screen, and counsel patients on health maintenance and promote utilization of community resources. Design, conduct, and/or participate in research studies, manage databases, and perform quality assurance.

Work Schedule: 7:45AM - 4:30PM - Monday - Friday
Financial Discloser Report: Not required

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 4/22/2021. Basic Required Qualifications (Per Handbook 5005) Physician Assistant

• U.S. Citizenship, Birth or Naturalized (appropriate documentation required)
• 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.
• National Certification as a Physician Assistant
• Current, full, unrestricted license as a Physician Assistant
• State approval to practice as a Physician Assistant
• At least one-year experience in a Mental Healthcare setting

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 Mental Health services.
• 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
• At least 2-5 years' experience with Psychiatric Mental Health

Required Level of Education Physician Assistant
Masters in Medical Science, Physician Assistant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mandatory Certification(s) BLS
Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/78 SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 PART II APPENDIX G8 II-G8-2. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
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.

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:

• VA Form 10-2850c
• Resume

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

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)
• VA Form 10-2850c
• Resume

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.