Physician Assistant (Surgery)

Veterans Health Administration • North Chicago, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. The Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) offers a wide range of services from minor same day surgery procedures to complex procedures involving specialized high-tech equipment including general surgery, hand surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, gynecology, urology, and vascular surgery. The PA will work closely with the team and assist in the management of surgical patients. They will be responsible for providing and coordinating comprehensive care for assigned patients including comprehensive assessments, ordering appropriate laboratory and x-ray studies, consulting and referring to physicians and other health care members as appropriate. The Surgical Physician Assistant will practice medicine as a member of a team with their Supervising Surgeon. Working as a member of the health care team they will promote and maintain health by providing the following medical and surgical services: Obtaining medical histories and performing physical examinations. Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating and implementing care plans, and providing follow-up care. Evaluating outpatients to determine the need for further health care. Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, etc. Carrying out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities. Ordering or obtaining laboratory specimens. Ordering ancillary services, such as, pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, prosthetic services, etc. Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures. Ordering patient care supplies. Writing orders for or prescribing medications. Admitting and Discharging patients in consultation with care coordination team The incumbent will time between the Surgery clinic, the Operating Room, and administrative duties. The incumbent will share some 24/7 on call time.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with ORACLE Cerner

Responsibilities

• Assisting in the management of surgical patients.
• Providing and coordinating comprehensive care for assigned patients, including comprehensive assessments.
• Ordering appropriate laboratory and x-ray studies.
• Consulting and referring to physicians and other health care members as appropriate.
• Practicing medicine as a member of a team with their Supervising Surgeon.
• Obtaining medical histories and performing physical examinations.
• Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating and implementing care plans, and providing follow-up care.
• Evaluating outpatients to determine the need for further health care.
• Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, etc.
• Carrying out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities.
• Ordering or obtaining laboratory specimens.
• Ordering ancillary services, such as, pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, prosthetic services, etc.
• Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures.
• Ordering patient care supplies.
• Writing orders for or prescribing medications.
• Admitting and Discharging patients in consultation with care coordination team.
• Spending time between the Surgery clinic, the Operating Room, and administrative duties.
• Sharing some 24/7 on call time.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Comprehensive total rewards package
• Federal employee benefits (comprehensive benefits package, range of benefits designed to make federal career rewarding)

What This Job Offers

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