Physician Assistant (Mental Health Substance Abuse Clinic)

Veterans Health Administration • Kernersville, NC

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center is seeking a Physician Assistant for Mental Health's substance use clinic at the Kernersville Health Clinic in Kernersville, NC. The Mental Health Service Line provides care in several psychiatric settings: inpatient units, ambulatory programs, residential program for substance abuse, residential program for PTSD, emergency department, medical-surgical ward psychiatric consultation and geriatrics with extended programs. Physician Assistants are expected to provide Medical Care in those settings as required. 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.

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.
• 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
• 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.
• Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations.
• Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
• For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of full-time, direct clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders.
• 3 years substance use experience (In-patient and out-patient), familiarity with Suboxone preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate psychiatric patients for medical management of non-psychiatric issues
• Makes appropriate referrals/consults, follow-ups, and treatment plans.
• Perform histories and physical examinations (H&Ps) on assigned patients.
• Orders routine laboratory, radiological and diagnostic tests, and may order electrocardiograms on assigned patients
• Perform venipuncture and arterial punctures to obtain tests on assigned patients.
• Writing medical orders and progress notes on assigned patients,
• Provide patient education.
• Apply accepted preventive health care measures to patients.
• Consider all current medical center approved non-restricted formulary medication to be within the approved Scope of Practice with the exception of Chemotherapy medications and Clozaril.
• Initiate Basic Life Support in accordance with current BLS standards, to include automatic defibrillation in life threatening situations and/or initiate Advanced Cardiac Life Support in accordance with current ACLS protocols, to include defibrillation/cardioversion if ACLS certified.
• Perform administrative duties such as quality assurance, peer reviews, and serving on various committees, as may be directed by the ACOS/MH&BS or Administration.
• Participate in the instruction of medical and allied health care students assigned to MH&BS.
• Assist in the completion of required mental health clinic reminders and monitors
• Provide or assist in the process of evaluation and treatment of the presenting patient
• Actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to medical or psychiatric interventions
• Evaluate the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status
• Participate in various hospital committees, departmental and hospital in-service programs, and education programs of the department and the hospital.
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Benefits

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package .
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Learn more about federal benefits .
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

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