Physician Assistant (Surgery)

Veterans Health Administration•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Physician Assistant (PA) works with the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in San Francisco, California, providing surgical and emergency care to veterans. The PA provides medical treatment and personal care in accordance with Veterans Health Administration and national standards and outcomes research. The role includes documenting observations, assessments, and changes in patients’ conditions and collaborating with the medical management team to support positive patient outcomes. The PA manages surgical inpatients on wards, transitional care units, and intensive care units, documenting care in the medical record and notifying the Chief Resident or Fellow when a patient’s medical status changes or treatment needs to be altered. The PA evaluates surgical consults in the hospital or emergency department, provides on-call surgical coverage, performs simple surgical procedures, and assists in the operating room. The position also provides surgical coverage as part of the code team and treats respiratory failure and life-threatening traumatic injuries. Additional duties may include instructing medical and allied health students, administrative work such as Continuous Quality Improvement and peer review, committee service, approved clinical research, staff seminars, and helping maintain the surgical waiting list. Other duties may be assigned. The vacancy’s full performance level is PA-III, with selection possible at grades PA-I through PA-III.

Requirements

Master’s degree in any discipline, or a bachelor’s degree in any discipline plus one year of experience as a Physician Assistant.
Successfully passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), or be in the process of taking it.
Hold, or be able to obtain, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Be proficient in written and spoken English.
Meet the physical standards for the position and pass a pre-employment physical examination.
For PA-II: two years of successful PA practice, or qualifying postgraduate PA residency completion, or a doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited institution.
For PA-III: three years of successful PA practice; or qualifying postgraduate PA residency completion and one year of PA practice; or a qualifying health-related doctoral degree and one year of PA practice.
Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities specified for the applicable PA grade, including patient assessment and treatment, complex medical problem-solving, autonomous practice as applicable, and collaboration in interdisciplinary care.
Meet federal employment conditions, including applicable background/security investigation, drug testing, onboarding, identification, and Selective Service registration requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.

Nice To Haves

Successful completion of a PA postgraduate residency program sponsored by the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or accredited by VA, ARC-PA, the U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency.
A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Responsibilities

Manage surgical inpatients on wards, transitional care units, and intensive care units, including documenting care in the medical record.
Notify the Chief Resident or Fellow of changes in a patient’s medical status or when treatment alterations are needed.
Evaluate surgical consults in the hospital or emergency department.
Provide on-call surgical coverage.
Perform simple surgical procedures, including wound vacuum changes, surgical wound debridement, wound care, triage of surgical problems, and compartment pressure assessment; assist in the operating room.
Provide surgical coverage as part of the code team.
Treat respiratory failure and life-threatening traumatic injuries.
Instruct medical and allied health students assigned to the Night/Weekend Section, as necessary.
Perform administrative duties, including Continuous Quality Improvement, peer review, and committee service, as directed.
Conduct clinical research if approved by the Service Chief.
Provide in-service seminars to hospital staff.
Assist with maintaining a surgical waiting list and contacting future patients and referring physicians.
Perform additional duties as assigned.