Physician Assistant - Internal Medicine

Veterans Health Administration•West Roxbury, MA

10d

About The Position

The Physician Assistant provides comprehensive inpatient medical care to adult Veterans, including the evaluation and management of acute, episodic, chronic, and complex conditions. The PA works under the close supervision of a designated physician, with limited independence in care decisions, and practices within granted clinical privileges in collaboration with supervising Internal Medicine physician faculty. The position serves as a primary provider on either the Direct Care service or the General Internal Medicine (GIM) Teaching service. It manages daily patient care activities, including admissions, ongoing care, coordination, and discharge planning, while supporting safe transitions and timely communication. The PA also provides clinical guidance and continuity for Internal Medicine residents, medical students, and other trainees, and supports resident teams in delivering safe, high-value, evidence-based care. The role includes developing and managing treatment plans; ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, and electrocardiograms; writing medical orders and prescribing medications in accordance with VA formularies and applicable laws and regulations; initiating specialty consultations and coordinating community-care requests; and educating Veterans and families. The PA documents care in VA electronic health record systems, complies with VA policies and quality and safety measures, participates in peer reviews and clinical audits, and assists with training medical residents. The work schedule depends on the assigned team. The Direct Care Team includes weekends and holidays. The Resident-Led Team works Monday through Friday, does not work holidays, and has a stated schedule of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The work is mostly sedentary but also involves standing, bending, carrying light items, and standing or walking for prolonged periods to interact with patients and other services.

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 PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE), or be in the process of taking the exam.
Currently 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 applicable grade-level qualification: PA-I requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; PA-II requires two years of successful PA practice, an eligible PA postgraduate residency, or a doctoral degree in a health-related field; PA-III requires three years of successful PA practice, or an eligible residency and one year of PA practice, or a health-related doctoral degree and one year of PA practice.
Demonstrate entry-level PA competencies, including applying PA practice principles, performing patient histories and physical examinations, formulating plans and providing treatment, and keeping care current with professional developments.
For PA-II or PA-III, demonstrate the applicable knowledge, skills, and abilities for the selected grade, including analysis and resolution of complex medical problems, clinical decision-making, teamwork, and collaborative practice as applicable.
Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
Be subject to a background and security investigation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis.
Meet applicable federal employment conditions, including Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959, and completion of onboarding and required application documentation.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive inpatient medical care to adult Veterans, evaluating and managing acute, episodic, chronic, and complex conditions.
Serve as a primary provider on the Direct Care service or General Internal Medicine Teaching service, managing admissions, ongoing patient care, care coordination, and discharge planning.
Coordinate inpatient care, timely communication, and safe transitions of care.
Provide clinical guidance and continuity for Internal Medicine residents, medical students, and other trainees involved in patient care.
Lead and support resident teams in addressing inpatient care, with attention to patient safety, high-value care, and evidence-based practices.
Assess, diagnose, make clinical decisions, develop treatment plans, and implement patient care plans within granted privileges.
Deliver patient-centered care to Veterans ages 18 through geriatric, considering medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs.
Collaborate with the health care team to design and continuously improve the quality of care delivered to Veterans.
Formulate, implement, and manage long-term treatment plans for patients with acute, chronic, and complex diseases.
Order and interpret laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, and electrocardiograms.
Write medical orders and prescribe medications in accordance with VA national formularies, federal law, and applicable state regulations.
Initiate specialty consultations within the VA and coordinate requests for non-VA community care.
Counsel Veterans and their families on preventive care, health promotion, disease management, and the use of prescribed treatments.
Document clinical notes, encounters, and consents in VA electronic health record systems such as CPRS or updated platforms.
Comply with VA policies, procedures, standards of care, performance guidelines, quality improvement initiatives, and safety metrics such as SAIL metrics.
Participate in facility peer reviews and audit clinical processes.
Instruct or assist medical residents with orders and VA navigational systems.