Physician Assistant (Surgery)

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Boise, Idaho, United States

Summary The position is located in the Boise VA Medical Center, surgery Service and will manage and aid in the coordination of surgical operations, work as an integral member of the surgical team, and will be responsible for a broad range of patient care/administrative duties including inpatient, outpatient, and intraoperative care. The PA will work with a collaborating physician but is expected to exercise a high degree of autonomy with specific privileges delineated in the PA's scope of practice. Responsibilities Boise and the larger metro area is home to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and start-ups, universities, military and nonprofit organizations and many more. Boise is a vibrant and energetic community with friendly faces and a beautiful backdrop. Dining and nightlife, recreation and adventure, and arts and culture are all in the heart of downtown Boise and the metro area. The duties and responsibilities of the position include but is not limited to the following: Obtains medical histories and performing physical examinations. Provides and coordinates medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating, and implementing care plans, and providing follow-up care. Evaluates outpatients to determine the need for further health care. Orders diagnostic studies and other special tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, etc. Carries out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities. Orders or obtains laboratory specimens. Orders ancillary services, such as, pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, prosthetic services, etc. Orders VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures. Orders patient care supplies. Writes orders for or prescribing medications. Admits and discharges patients in consultation with, and on behalf of, the collaborating physician, obtaining admission history and performing physical examinations, conducting patient rounds, documenting progress notes and summaries in the patient record, and writing patient orders on assigned patients. The PA may also be delegated the task of documenting the discharge summary, but the collaborating physician must write a discharge note, or co-sign the discharge summary written by the PA in accordance with the Joint Commission standards that are applicable. Other patient record entries by PAs includes medical histories, physical examinations, progress notes, service consults, Compensation and Pension evaluations, and patient orders not requiring a physician co-signature. Obtains and documents informed consent for treatments and procedures for which the PA is responsible. The PA's Scope of Practice must authorize obtaining informed consent for the treatment or procedure being performed. In addition, the Scope of Practice must authorize the PA to perform the procedure or provide the treatment for which the consent is being obtained or to actively participate as an integral member of the treatment team performing the procedure such as assisting the primary surgeon. NOTE: The PA need not participate in the procedure the patient is scheduled to undergo but the PA must be authorized to perform or participate in the procedure by their Scope of Practice and must have sufficient knowledge and training in the treatment or procedure, its indications, risk and benefits, complications, and alternative treatments, to effectively counsel the patient. Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Expanded Scope of Practice Performs certain surgical and therapeutic procedures including, but not limited to, suturing of lacerations, obtaining biopsies, intra-articular injections, and intravascular catheter placement as outlined and requested. Performs certain procedures in the operating room, such as vein harvesting, closing wounds, and 1st assisting the primary surgeon in operative procedures. Performs specialized therapeutic or diagnostic procedures in specialty care settings per standard privileging and credentialing requirements. Administers intravenous fluids, medications, or contrast agents. Interprets EKG studies and providing preliminary reports. Provides after-hours weeknight, weekend, and holiday 1st-call coverage within the credentialed scope of practice within the Department of Surgery. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position EDRP Authorized: EDRP is not authorized for this position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402 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). 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. Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) Licensure. 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. 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: Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. 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. Indiv