Summary The Saint Louis VA Healthcare System is looking for highly qualified applicants to fill a position with Surgical Service as a Physician Assistant (Surgical Critical Care). Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The Physician Assistant will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and as assigned administrative roles in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility to participate in the clinical and administrative duties related to the patients in the SICU. The Physician Assistant duties include: The primary focus of clinical practice is for health care to veterans assigned to the SICU. Advanced assessment and diagnosis - conducting thorough patient evaluations, interpreting complex clinical data and making diagnoses for critically ill patients. Therapeutic interventions: initiating and managing complex treatments like ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, vasopressor administration, and advance life support measures. Facilitates care of surgical patients as well as their entry and exit from various health care systems by establishing and maintaining liaison with a variety of medical specialists and associated staff. Medication management: Prescribing and adjusting medication based on critical care needs, including high-risk medication and infusions. Ordering and interpreting advanced diagnostic tests like arterial blood gases, central venous pressure monitoring, intracranial pressure monitoring, and advance imaging studies. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals: Consulting with specialists like pulmonologists, cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesia, neurologists, nephrologists to optimize patient care. Patient and family education: Providing comprehensive information and support to critically ill patients and their families regarding complex medical conditions and treatment options. Performs complex procedures independently, within scope & privileges. Assist with clinical aspects of care to the patients of the sub-specialty departments. The Advanced Practice Provider has the authority to order all tests and procedures necessary to evaluate and care for these patients. These evaluations and orders will fall within the policies and guidelines of the VAMC. Initiates/accepts referrals to and from the operating room, VA facilities/clinics/wards and/or community agencies. Collaborate with other health care resources to ensure timely and appropriate care of patients. Coordinate intake and egress (transfers) of patients through SICU. Assist other Advanced Practice Providers and Physicians assigned to the Surgical Service, as needed. Other clinical duties as assigned by the Chief of Surgical Service and Medical Director of the SICU. Administrative: Attend committee meetings and process action teams to represent the Surgical Service at the discretion of the Chief of Surgical Services. Facilitate response/actions to patient inquires to care and treatment received by the Surgical service. Other administrative duties as assigned by the Chief of Surgical Service and Medical Director of the SICU. Work Schedule: Rotating Tour Days/evenings/Weekends or at the needs of the facility Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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 ~AND~ Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ 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 Determinations: PA I - Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. 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: i. Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR ii. 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. OR iii. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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: i. Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR ii. 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. OR iii. 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. Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years Experience providing Intensive Care to critically ill patients. Experience initiating and managing complex treatments like ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, vasopressor administration, and advance life-support measure. Medication management: Prescribing and adjusting medication based on critical care needs, including high-risk medication and infusions. Diagnostic test ordering and interpretation: Ordering and interpreting advanced diagnostic tests like arterial blood gases, central venous pressure monitoring, intracranial pressure monitoring, and advanced imaging studies. Complex procedures: Performs procedures Independently for which hold privileges for. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 01 to 03. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service Education 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/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
