Physician Assistant Cardiothoracic - Recruitment & Relocation Incentive Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • Indianapolis, IN

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Physician Assistant serves in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Section at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, providing comprehensive medical and surgical care to inpatient and outpatient cardiothoracic and surgical intensive care (SICU) patients. The PA serves as a primary coordinator for physicians and PA/ARNP providers and coordinates care across inpatient and outpatient settings and with other facility services.

The role includes patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, admission and discharge responsibilities, preoperative coordination, operating-room assistance, bedside procedures, SICU clinical practice, patient and family education, interdisciplinary collaboration, documentation, quality assurance, and participation in performance measures and clinical research. The PA also identifies barriers to safe and effective care, coordinates problem-solving with social work and other services, and helps develop and update cardiothoracic patient care programs.

This is an open continuous announcement through January 22, 2027. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates may be considered as vacancies arise. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some on-call duties and weekends. Travel of up to 15% may be expected. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. Recruitment and relocation incentives are authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A master's degree in any discipline, or a bachelor's degree in any discipline plus one year of experience as a Physician Assistant.
• Successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), or being in the process of taking the exam.
• An active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice as a PA in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required by the licensing state.
• For PA-II consideration: two years of successful PA practice, or completion of an eligible accredited PA postgraduate residency, or a doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• For PA-III consideration: three years of successful PA practice; or an eligible accredited PA postgraduate residency plus one year of PA practice; or a doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education plus one year of PA practice.
• Ability to perform patient histories and physical examinations, formulate treatment plans, and provide appropriate patient care.
• Ability to analyze and solve complex medical problems, function autonomously, and make independent medical decisions for PA-II-level practice.
• Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams and incorporate training and experience into patient care.
• For PA-III-level practice, ability to evaluate care delivery systems, identify barriers to safe care, diagnose and treat seriously ill patients with autonomy, present clinical findings to management, facilitate care across teams, implement evidence-based clinical changes, and participate in patient-care audit processes.
• Must pass pre-employment evaluation and required background/security investigation; selected applicants must complete onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Physical ability to perform direct patient care duties that may involve prolonged walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, reaching, pushing, and pulling; moderate lifting or carrying up to 35 pounds following safe patient-handling guidelines.
• Adequate vision to perform assigned duties, distinguish basic colors, and safely assess patients and the environment; sufficient hearing to perform assigned duties, with hearing aids permitted.
• Must meet applicable federal pre-employment requirements, including drug testing for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions and Selective Service registration for applicable males.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical and surgical care to inpatient and outpatient cardiothoracic surgery and SICU patients, coordinating care among physicians and PA/ARNP providers.
• Conduct comprehensive examinations, diagnose conditions, develop and implement treatment plans, write admission orders and discharge summaries, and order laboratory and radiographic studies.
• Educate and counsel patients and their families about medical care.
• Verify that preoperative surgical requirements are met, arrange admissions, and coordinate inpatient care on the floor.
• Take primary responsibility for patient admissions and medical care.
• Assist surgeons in the operating room, including prepping and draping and serving as first or second assistant in surgery.
• Perform bedside procedures, including arterial-line, Swan-Ganz catheter, and central-line placement; bronchoscopy; tracheostomy tube changes; wound care and debridement; thoracentesis; and removal of chest tubes, temporary pacing wires, intra-aortic balloon pumps, lines, and drains.
• Diagnose and treat cardiothoracic surgery patients seen in consultation with other health care providers.
• Promote and periodically update cardiothoracic patient care programs based on current concepts, research, and attending physician findings.
• Integrate cardiothoracic surgery service activities with other facility patient care programs and manage a cardiothoracic section quality-assurance task force.
• Identify problems, conflicts, or barriers to patient care; formulate plans to address them preoperatively; and coordinate with social work and other facility services.
• Obtain patient histories, conduct physical examinations, assess ongoing needs, and make ethical practice decisions using the nursing process.
• Order and interpret routine laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and radiographic tests; perform diagnostic and stabilization procedures as necessary based on ACLS.
• Collaborate with respiratory therapy and nursing on airway management and ventilator weaning.
• Write orders for laboratory work, medications, and treatments in accordance with hospital policies.
• Communicate patient problems and status updates to Surgical Service physicians and participate in SICU discharge planning with team members, patients, families, and consultants.
• Document relevant laboratory data, study results, patient care, procedures, and patient updates in medical records; maintain accurate and timely records.
• Place and remove enteral feeding tubes, central venous catheters, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, sutures, drains, and tubes; assist with or perform invasive procedures such as central and arterial lines, bronchoscopy, PEG tube placement, and percutaneous tracheostomy.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other health care team members to develop and maintain interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Identify at-risk individuals who need referrals and assist with investigation and documentation of patient issues and concerns.
• Participate in performance measures through documentation and data collection and reporting.
• Account for physiological, cultural, and psychological aspects of maturational development in patient care.
• Base practice on research, participate in clinical research projects, and prioritize multiple patient-care needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive total rewards package and federal employee benefits for eligible employees.
• Recruitment incentive authorized.
• Relocation incentive authorized.

What This Job Offers

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