Physician Assistant - Behavioral Health Community Based Outpatient Clinic

Veterans Health Administration•Meadville, PA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. The PA is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients. The position is located in two of the VA's Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and will be split between Meadville, PA 3x/week and Franklin, PA 2x/week. The PA independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice. They develop and implement an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management, demonstrate leadership, and work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. The role involves ordering and interpreting labs, tests, and diagnostic studies, prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, initiating referrals and consults to specialty services, providing education to patients and their families, and assessing and adjusting the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. The position exemplifies the ICARE core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

Requirements

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.
Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant
Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam)
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.
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 for PA-I: 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: Two years of successful practice as a PA.
OR Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Officeof 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 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.
Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) Experience and Education: 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 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.

Nice To Haves

Mental Health Experience

Responsibilities

Independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice.
Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management.
Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team.
Orders and interprets labs, tests, and diagnostic studies.
Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services.
Provides education to patients and their families.
Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.
Performs other duties as assigned.