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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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: 1 year of specialized experience as a PA in Orthopedics Grade Determinations: Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I): Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirement. This is the entry level for PAs. Demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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 advancement in the profession. Physician Assistant -II (PA-II): Experience and Education: The PA at this grade is a the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicate in the KSAs listed below. 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. Demonstrates KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by: Two years of successful practice as 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. Demonstrate 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. Utilize advance clinical knowledge and judgement in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. Functions as an expert 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. 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 the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by the VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or other 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 (KSAs): PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, and 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 elevate 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 professional, 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: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/134, Part II, Appendix G8, Physician Assistant qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. ["The primary duty of the Orthopedic Physician Assistant (PA) as mid-level provider is to manage the responsibility of performing comprehensive and/or episodic patient assessment, including initial and interim history and physical examination, and evaluation of normal and abnormal findings. Develops and initiates a plan of care based on these evaluations with consultation and follow-up as needed. Regular review of the care rendered to stable patients will be accomplished. Duties may include but are not limited to the following: Performs comprehensive and/or episodic patient assessment, including initial and interim history and physical examination, and evaluation of normal and abnormal findings. Develops and initiates a plan of care based on these evaluations with consultation and follow-up as needed. Regular review of the care rendered to stable patients will be accomplished. May screen patients to determine the need for hospital admission and may so admit patients when indicated and inform the receiving physician of the admission as soon as practicable. Orders and evaluates laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic tests pertinent to patient care needs and their pre/post surgical plan of care and provide initial interpretation of results. Orders type and screen of blood, type and crossmatch blood, and makes preparations as required for blood products for patients. A physician must issue an actual order for the giving of blood and/or blood products. May perform venipuncture and arterial punctures to obtain specimens when personnel who customarily perform these procedures are unable to do so or are unavailable. Refers patients to specialty clinics when indicated. Screens outpatients to determine the need for further health care or hospital admission. Advises, teaches, and counsels individuals, families and groups regarding identified health care needs and provides information for prevention of illnesses, management of medical conditions, treatment of post-operative wounds and continuous follow-up care including proper use of prescribed treatments and medications. Assumes responsibility for organizing and managing a caseload of patients. Participates in clinical rounds with staff to assist in coordinating treatment plans and providing patient follow-up. Performs the following procedures:(a) Wound closure(b) Wound management(c) Wound Debridement(d) Incision and drainage of superficial soft tissue infections(e) K-wire removal(f) Hardware removal(g) Excision of lesions (including skin lesion, foreign body, superficial mass, cyst)(h) Removal of nails(i) Nail guttering(j) Digital blocks(k) Local infiltrating anesthesia Performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including:(a) External and internal orthopedic joint and bursa aspirations(b) Closed reduction of fractures and dislocations(c) Injection of joints, tendons, trigger points and bursa(d) Brace, cast and splint applications Performs surgical first assistant duties to include assisting in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions, deep and superficial tissue closures, application of appliances and other actions delegated by the surgeon to carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. Orders, prescribes, dispenses, and administers medication, orthosis, orthotics, braces and other orthopedic devices as may be allowed by state legislation. Prescriptive authority for inpatient and outpatient pharmaceuticals using the current Medical Center formulary including controlled substances, Schedule 3, 3N, 4, 5. Continuation or renewal of current medications, except for those excluded on the above list, may be ordered by the PA. May obtain consents for any procedure performed by the PA. Work Schedule: Day Shift, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm. This may change at the discretion of the agency. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Robert Knudsen, Robert.Knudsen@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory"]

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