PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (ORTHOPEDIC)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, Surgery Service, seeks a Physician Assistant qualified to perform both clinical and administrative duties. This role supports major responsibilities in patient care, education, research, and program development within the VA system.

Entry-level PA candidates may be considered. Candidates must meet citizenship, English proficiency, education, certfication, and licensure requirements.

Qualifications

• Accredited PA program completion.
• Master's degree or Bachelor’s with 1 year PA experience.
• PANCE certification and state licensure required.
• Active license in appropriate state.
• No licensure issues that would impede practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and administrative PA duties across surgical services.
• Perform patient history, physicals, and treatment planning.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient care.
• Engage in education, research, and program development as needed.

Skills

Clinical decision making

PA practice

Team collaboration

Telehealth

Research

Education

ARC-PA accredited PA program

Master's degree or Bachelor's + 1 year PA exp

Tools

CPRS / EHR systems

Job description

The PA will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Surgery Service. This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility in his/her area of expertise to assume major clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to this care.

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:

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

Physician Assistant Minimum Qualifications

1. 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).]
2. 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.]
3. Certification. [Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
4. Licensure. PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a 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.
5. 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 13 of this part.

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
• 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. The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:
• 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).

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. 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.

• 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.

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

Preferred Experience:

Orthopedic experience, surgical and/or MSK experience preferred

Reference:

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is PA‑III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA‑I to PA‑III