Physician Assistant - General Surgery (Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off: 50-55 days per year

Competitive salary with performance bonuses

Traditional federal pension and 401(k) contributions

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Free liability protection with tail coverage

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia, South Carolina, is seeking a Physician Assistant to coordinate care for patients and perform independent medical examinations. The role includes working closely with a team and providing ongoing patient education.

The position offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including 50-55 days of paid time off, competitive salary with performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional development. A full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state is required.

Qualifications

• License requirement: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.

Responsibilities

• Provide and coordinate care for assigned patients.
• Perform history-taking and physical examinations.
• Document progress notes in the patient record.

Job description

Summary

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications and subsequent cut‑off dates are on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.

Benefits

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) is not authorized.
• Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible 5‑day paid absence for CME).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions by VA Insurance.
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care insurance that can be carried into retirement.
• License requirement: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
• Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement for CME (must be full‑time with board certification).
• Free liability protection with tail coverage provided.

Responsibilities

• The Physician Assistant will work closely with their respective team and assist in the management of patients.
• They will be responsible for providing and coordinating care for assigned patients, including assessments, ordering appropriate laboratory and diagnostic studies, and consulting and referring to physicians and other health‑care members as appropriate.
• The PA must also be able to perform independent direct patient care, including but not limited to history‑taking, physical examinations, and progress notes for orthopedic patients.
• The PA’s practice is under clinical oversight by a designated collaborating physician.
• Although PAs are not licensed independent practitioners, they are authorized to practice with defined levels of autonomy and exercise independent medical decision making within their scope of practice.
• The General Surgery Physician Assistant will practice medicine as a member of a team with their supervising surgeon.
• Major duties include: obtaining medical histories and performing physical examinations.
• Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating and implementing care plans, and providing follow‑up care.
• Evaluating outpatients to determine the need for further health care.
• Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests, such as MRI and CT scans.
• Carrying out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities.
• Ordering laboratory specimens and ancillary services, such as pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, and prosthetic services.
• Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non‑VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures.
• Ordering patient care supplies.
• Writing orders for or prescribing medications (see paragraph c of this App).
• Admitting and discharging patients in consultation with, and on behalf of, the collaborating physician, obtaining admission history.
• Performing physical examinations, conducting patient rounds, documenting progress notes and summaries in the patient record, and writing patient orders on assigned patients.
• Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatments and procedures for which the PA is responsible.
• Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• PAs may prescribe or order all medications listed in the VA National Formulary consistent with the PA’s level of prescribing authority and practice setting.
• Work schedule: Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 3:30 pm (subject to change based on the needs of the agency).