Physician Assistant III

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Greenwood VA Clinic in Louisville, KY is seeking a full-time Physician Assistant III to provide comprehensive primary care with a geriatric focus. The PA will deliver advanced clinical practice, consult, and manage patient care within the VA system, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure timely, quality care.

Applicants must meet basic requirements including ARC-PA accredited education, PANCE, and active US licensure, with English proficiency and commitment to VA mission.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in any discipline, OR Bachelor's degree with one year of PA experience.
• PANCE certification is required; NCCPA certification is not required to maintain employment.
• Active, unrestricted PA license in the United States or District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical practice in primary care with a geriatric focus.
• Lead and coordinate patient care within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Mentor PA students and support ongoing professional development.

Skills

Geriatric care

Clinical decision making

Team-based care

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree with 1 year PA experience

Job description

The Greenwood VA Clinic in Louisville, KY is recruiting for a full time Physician Assistant III (PA). A Physician Assistant is a credentialed healthcare professional who proactices in Primary Care Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The PA provided advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management with a geriatric focus. 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 REQUIREMENTS.

a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38,United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

b. Education. Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following: (1)Master's degree in any discipline; OR 2)Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.

c. Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. (See paragraph 3a in this standard for additional information regarding the certification requirement for employees grandfathered into the occupation.)

d. Licensure. PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice ina State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.

(1) Impaired Licensure. A PA who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions of chapter 3, section B, paragraph 13of this part.

(2) Exceptions for Graduate PAs. (a) PAs who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PA on a temporary full-time appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (c) Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed PAs currently employed by VA as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.

(3) Loss of Credentials. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required licensure or NCCPA certification when required under paragraph 3a below must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment (VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, paragraph 17).

(4) Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, graduate PAs must actively pursue and obtain required licensure from the date of their appointments. The human resource office will provide the unlicensed PA in writing the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. The written notice must be provided prior to the first date of employment. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.

e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

f. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Preferred Experience: Geriatric and home health experience preferred. Meets the minimum requirements for the APRN or PA discipline.

Grade Determinations

Physician Assistant-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, 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.

Reference:

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