Summary

The Specialty Care Service Mission is to lead satisfied staff dedicated to providing high quality patient centered care at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) - a great tertiary training and research Veteran's hospital. This PA Transplant Medicine position supports this mission through administrative dependability - direct patient care - and support of their section's educational and research activities.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. PA

Basic Requirements:

• Education: Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant Examination: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) License/Registration: 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
• GRADE DETERMINATION - In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: ------------------------------------Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) ------------------------------------ Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• The following list of knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA
• This practice may include - but is not limited to: Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care
• Ability to perform patient history and physical Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.iv
• Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession ------------------------------------Physician Assistant-II (PA-II)------------------------------------ Experience and Education
• The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below
• Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving
• Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by: Two years of successful practice as a PA Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA - ARC-PA - 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify - but should be able to demonstrate - develop - or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II: Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively ------------------------------------Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)------------------------------------ Experience and Education
• PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently - practice within multi-disciplinary teams - and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system
• They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes
• They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities - may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs - and may provide training for health care students
• Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by: Three years of successful practice as a PA Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA - ARC-PA - U.S. Armed Forces - or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify - but should be able to demonstrate - develop - or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III: Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill - multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals - health managers - and other health care personnel Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Grandfathering Provision Note: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: If a PA is certified by the NCCPA - but not licensed on the effective date of the qualification standard - they are not required to obtain or maintain a license to remain employed in VHA
• However - if they lose or fail to maintain their NCCPA certification after this qualification standard is effective and do not possess a full - valid - and unrestricted license - they are no longer qualified for employment as a PA in VHA
• PAs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or demoted within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If a PA who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• PAs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification and meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• PAs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The incumbent of this Physician Assistant (PA) position is a specialized practitioner responsible for providing comprehensive diagnostic - therapeutic - and preventative healthcare services to Veterans with malignant and non-malignant hematologic and oncology conditions
• The PA will deliver a full range of Hematology/Oncology services emphasizing quality - timeliness - and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs mission as well as provide advanced clinical practice - consultation - and management of an assigned panel of patients in an outpatient clinical setting
• Clinical Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinating and supervising the delivery of outpatient care for hematology/oncology patients including patient evaluation
• treatment including bone marrow biopsies and chemotherapy - ordering appropriate medications - and arrange follow-up and appropriate referral appointments - etc
• Conducting comprehensive histories and physical examinations Ordering and interpreting specialized tests including
• complete blood counts (CBCs) peripheral smears - metabolic panels - tumor markers and molecular/genetic testing Ordering and reviewing diagnostic imaging such: CT - MRI - PET and Bone Scans to monitor disease progression - or response to therapy Developing and managing therapeutic regimens - in collaboration with the attending oncologist - including: chemotherapy - immunotherapy - targeted therapies - and hormonal treatments Managing treatment-related side effects such as neutropenia - anemia - thrombocytopenia - nausea - and infusion reactions Performing or assisting with bone marrow aspirations and biopsies Performing therapeutic paracentesis or thoracentesis for system relief Performing lumbar punctures for intrathecal chemotherapy administration Counseling patients and families regarding diagnosis - treatment goals (curative vs
• palliative) - and potential toxicities Participating in Tumor Boards and multidisciplinary clinics - etc
• Administrative Duties include but are not limited to: Evaluating clinical performance - and formulating and implementing plans to improve the care delivered to patient population Performing administrative duties as directed by the supervising physician or agent of the supervising physician Completing required encounter information in VA's Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) Other duties - as assigned - etc
• Work Schedule: TBD (Typically: M-F - 0730-1600 or 0800-1630 CST) Telework: Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized