Physician Assistant (Podiatry)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Physician Assistant to support the Podiatry Section under the Section Chief. The PA will organize care within authorized privileges, apply advanced clinical judgment to complex cases, and coordinate care across disciplines in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.

Qualified candidates will have a PA credential, licensure, and (preferably) five years of surgical or specialty care experience with strong emphasis on patient assessment, treatment

Qualifications

• Assesses patients and develops care plans within approved privileges.
• Performs comprehensive history and physical examinations, orders/ interprets tests.
• Advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration and quality patient care.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient care across podiatry, surgery, and other clinical teams.
• Provide ongoing patient management including pre/postoperative care and follow-up.
• Ensure compliance with VA/Podiatry policies and professional standards.

Skills

Patient assessment

Treatment planning

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Clinical decision making

Education

Master's degree in any discipline or bachelor's with PA experience

PANCE (PA National Certifying Exam)

Full/unrestricted PA license

Job description

The Podiatry Section functions under the overall management of the Section Chief of Podiatry. The Physician Assistant functions as part of an interdisciplinary staff of podiatrists, other clinicians, technicians, and administrative personnel. The PA independently organizes care within approved privileges, applies advanced clinical judgment to complex cases, and coordinates care across disciplines. The incumbent complies with established Surgery Service and Podiatry Section policies. 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.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience

Have a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Physician Assistant, preferably in a surgical, podiatry, orthopedic, or other specialty-care setting. Experience should include performing comprehensive patient assessments, developing treatment plans, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, performing minor procedures in a clinical setting, providing preoperative and postoperative care, and managing patients in an outpatient setting. Experience collaborating with physicians and other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team is preferred. Prior experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs or another large, integrated healthcare system is desirable.

Grade Determinations

(1) Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)

(a) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

(b) 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.

(2) Physician Assistant-II (PA-II)

(a) 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.
• 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.
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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-II:

• 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.

(3) Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)

(a) Experience and Education: PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multidisciplinary 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.
• 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.
• 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.

(b) 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/. The full performance level of this vacancy is VN-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-I to VN-III.

Physical Requirements

See VA Handbook and Directive 5019