Physician Assistant - Aviation (Primary Care)

Cobb Professional Services • Little Rock, AR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a Physician Assistant (Aviation Medicine/Primary Care) for a full-time position supporting Special Operational Duty populations at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. The work schedule is between 0700-1700 Monday-Friday, including a one-hour uncompensated meal break. Core duties involve performing a full range of Physician Assistant services in flight medicine and base and operational medicine clinics, including screening, medical care, examinations for routine, acute, and chronic conditions, immunizations, diagnosis, treatment, and counseling. The role includes directing, performing, or assisting in the instruction of other healthcare professionals, ordering diagnostic tests, requesting consultations, and preparing records and reports. The Physician Assistant will provide health care to beneficiaries assigned to the Flight Medicine Clinic, Occupational Health Clinic, or other civilian Flight Medicine physician assistant positions, encompassing primary care, occupational health, preventive medicine, behavioral health, and community health. They may serve as a Primary Care Manager (PCM), responsible for the health and wellness of an assigned patient panel, including examinations, diagnostic plans, interpretation of findings, treatment implementation, determining consultation needs, approving referrals, directing case management, and handling patient telephone consults. Specific duties will be assigned by the Flight Commander, Flight Medicine Clinic. The role involves diagnosing and treating a wide range of adult acute and chronic diseases and injuries across various body systems, and performing medical procedures such as Basic and Advanced Life Support, airway management, cardioversion, minor surgical procedures, incision and drainage, suturing, cryotherapy, nebulizer treatments, cultures, foreign body removal, ear clearing, reduction of dislocations and fractures, bandaging, venous punctures, medication administration, and cervical spine injury stabilization. The position also requires reviewing and interpreting medical surveillance data, attending patient care reports and professional activities, and making aeromedical dispositions if experience requirements are met and specifically credentialed. The Physician Assistant may respond to HAZMAT and in-flight emergencies but will not fly as part of duties or participate in after-hours call. Special operational evaluations, deployment-related health assessments, and annual mental health assessments are also required. Proficiency in MHS Genesis, ASIMS, AIMWTS, PEPP, and other relevant computer systems is necessary. Contractor employees must identify themselves as such in all interactions.

Requirements

• Masters Degree in Physician Assistant Studies.
• Graduate from an accredited college or university certified by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or its predecessors, and acceptable to the HQ USAF/SG.
• Completion of required curriculum/training to be credentialed as an Aviation Physician Assistant.
• Completion of USAF-SAM Aerospace Medicine Primary Courses (AMP 101/201/202/301) that led to Certification; or sister service equivalent as determined by the Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP).
• At least 36 months of experience as a Physician Assistant, with 18-24 months of experience in Family Health.
• Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician’s Assistants (NCCPA). Must maintain NCCPA certification through the life of this task order.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a Physician Assistant.
• Must possess ability to pass a Government background check/security clearance.
• Possess a current AHA OR ARC BLS Healthcare Provider certification.

Nice To Haves

• Experience requirements for making aeromedical dispositions.
• Specific experience requirements for conducting special operational evaluations if waivered by Headquarters, AFMOA.

Responsibilities

• Perform a full range of Physician Assistant services in flight medicine and base and operational medicine clinic within the limits of their training and privileges granted by the MTF (e.g., supervise and provide general screening and medical care and examinations of patients for routine, acute and chronic conditions involving any and all organ systems; provide immunizations; diagnose, treat, and counsel patients as indicated).
• Direct, perform, or assist in the instruction of other health care professionals within the scope of the clinical privileges or responsibilities.
• Examine, diagnose, treat or prescribe courses of treatment within the scope of training, experience, and privileges.
• Provide preventive and health maintenance care, including annual physicals, positive health behaviors, and self-care skills through education and counseling.
• Order diagnostic tests as applicable as well as request consultation or referral with appropriate physicians, clinics, or other health resources as indicated.
• Technically proficient in directing and teaching other medical staff, providing educational lectures and participating in the provision of in-service training to clinic staff members. Such direction and interaction will adhere to Government and professional clinical standards and accepted clinical protocols.
• Provide health care to beneficiaries assigned to the Flight Medicine Clinic, Occupational Health Clinic, or other civilian Flight Medicine physician assistant positions as defined by the MTF. These tasks include performing primary care and occupational health clinician duties and the associated administrative tasks.
• Care shall include but not be limited to continuing, comprehensive health maintenance and provision of medical care, including preventive medicine, behavioral health, occupational health, and community health.
• May become the primary care manager (PCM) for a panel of patients, responsible for the management of the health and wellness of his/her assigned patients.
• Duties as PCM include: Examination of patients, formulation differential diagnostic plans, defines and orders required diagnostic testing; Interpretation of examination findings and test results, and implementation of treatment plans; Determines need for consultation and assists in medical care and treatment provided at the direction of other specialists; Approving/disapproving subspecialty referrals; Directing case management activities; Answering patient telephone consults with the assistance of clinic staff; Providing primary and secondary preventive maintenance care.
• Diagnose and treat a wide-range of adult acute and chronic diseases and injuries including but not limited to conditions of the Skin, Pulmonary System, Head, Gastrointestinal System, Eyes, Musculoskeletal System, Ears, Genitourinary System, Nose, Reproductive System, Throat, Lymphatic System, Neck, Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular System, Endocrine System, Psychiatric and Behavioral Health.
• Perform medical procedures to include, but not limited to: Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support; Secure and maintain an adequate airway to Include endotracheal intubation; Cardioversion of life threatening arrhythmias; Simple minor surgical procedures: punch biopsies, excision of skin lesions; Simple abscess incision and drainage; Nail trephination; Sling or swath injuries; Suture simple laceration; Suture removal; Cryotherapy; Nebulizer treatment; Cultures (throat, wound); Remove ocular, nasal and ear foreign bodies; Clearing of ears by flush technique; Reduce simple dislocations and fractures, when appropriate; Bandaging of sprains, minor burns, and minor lacerations; Perform venous punctures for lab studies and interpret results; Administer intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous medications as appropriate; Stabilize and evaluate cervical spine injuries as appropriate; Splint and stabilize traumatic injuries to extremities.
• Review, interpret, and act upon medical surveillance data relating to the Occupational Health program.
• Prepare records and reports as required in support of services rendered in accordance with established procedures.
• Attend and participate in patient care reports, Flight and Operational Medicine Working Group (FOMWG), Airman Medical Readiness Optimization (AMRO), Deployment Availability Working Group, weekly 2992 review meetings, patient care conferences, team conferences, professional staff conferences and other appropriate professional activities only to the extent that such attendance and participation is relative to his/her assigned cases and/or performance of services as determined by the MTF Chief of Aerospace Medicine.
• Make aeromedical dispositions ONLY if they meet experience requirements listed above and are specifically listed on the Aviation Physician Assistant credentials and privileges list, which requires initial review and approval by the MTF's SGP. The term "aeromedical disposition" includes drafting and reviewing aeromedical waivers, signing initial, periodic, DNIF, and return-to-fly 2992s.
• Respond to HAZMAT and respond to in-flight emergencies.
• Conduct special operational evaluations, including (but not limited to: PHA for flyers/special duty personnel within their scope, initial certification exams for flying/special duty applicants (including foreign military personnel attending US military training, initial health screening for foreign military personnel attending US military training), aeromedical disposition for flying/special operational duty, conduct adaptability rating assessment for military special duty applicants, apply AFI 48-123 and AFI 10- 203 (including profiling and duty restrictions as Profile Officer).
• Perform deployment related health assessment and annual mental health assessment services that comply with applicable Department of Defense and Air Force policy and guidance, to include required standards of care and clinical practice guidelines.
• Become proficient in the use of the following computer systems: MHS Genesis electronic health record, Aeromedical Services Information Management System (ASIMS), Aeromedical Information Management Waiver Tracking System (AIMWTS), Physical Exam Processing Program (PEPP) and any additional computer systems that are relevant to this position.
• Conduct special evaluations, including but not limited to PHA and Service History Physical Exams, initial/annual review-in-Lieu of MEB and medical board evaluation for non-flying and sister service personnel assigned to Flight Medicine.

Benefits

• Excellent Compensation & Exceptional Comprehensive Benefits!
• Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Time, Plus 11 Paid Federal Holidays!
• Medical/Dental/Vision, STD/LTD/Life, Health Savings Account available, and more!
• Annual CME Stipend and License/Certification Reimbursement!
• Matching 401K!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior