Summary Advanced GI Physician Assistant for Gastroenterology at the Salisbury VA Medical Center. There will be limited flexibility to practice general GI in Salisbury, Kernersville or Charlotte locations. The primary areas of responsibility will involve the Advanced GI clinic. This PA will be fully qualified and certified to function in a clinical role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Salisbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Responsibilities This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility in his/her area of expertise to assume major clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to the care of gastroenterology patients. Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical: 1. Primary focus of practice is the clinical management of health care for patients in the Advanced (Pancreaticobiliary) gastroenterology continuity and Advanced GI procedure clinics and inpatient consult service to drive additional volumes, growth of procedure volumes and offload follow up return patient care in Salisbury. There will be flexibility to do general GI in Salisbury or at one of the HCC sites. 2. Will have shared advanced GI clinics in Salisbury and will be supervised by the Section Chief for the first year based on clinical experience. 3. Participates as a member of the multidisciplinary team to assess and monitor gastroenterology patients. 4. Facilitates patient's entry and exit from various health care systems by establishing and maintaining liaison with a variety of medical specialists and associated staff. 5. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols in their application to the gastroenterology patient population in all settings. 6. Collaborates with other health care resources to insure continuity of care. 7. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant in the area of specialty and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff.8. Attends and manages outpatient Gastroenterology Clinics. 8. Attends and manages outpatient Gastroenterology Clinics. Administrative: 1. Primary resource for outpatient gastroenterology consults, assessing patient acuity and appropriately schedules evaluations. 2. Monitors and maintains consult tracking package. 3. Maintains gastroenterology database and monitors laboratory evaluations for the outpatient gastroenterology population. 4. Completes patient's disability and insurance forms as needed. 5. Arranges for gastroenterology procedures and interventions with the Radiology and Surgery services. 6. Oversees scheduling to the outpatient gastroenterology clinics with resolution of scheduling conflicts. Education/Research: 1. Promotes and participates in the delivery of patient and family health and gastroenterology education. 2. Participates, directs, and provides opportunities for staff development through in service education as needed. 3. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in gastroenterology and clinical medicine. 4. Participates in Gastroenterology Section's clinical research programs when appropriate. Supervisory Controls Is under the overall supervision and technical direction of the Chief, Gastroenterologist (MD/DO). The incumbent is expected to know the wide range of Cardiology procedures and therapies required to carry out assignments. Generally, the work is evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. Customer Service Relationships with management, co-workers, patients, and the general public is consistently courteous, respectful, and cooperative in nature. Incumbent will display a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's mission and goals. Incumbent will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level for the program for which he/she is responsible. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:45am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Supervisor Discretion Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. Exceptions for Graduate PAs. (a) PAs who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PA on a temporary full-time appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Graduate PAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (c) Temporary graduate PA appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed PAs currently employed by VA as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification Preferred Experience: Experience in pancreaticobiliary disease and advanced endoscopy procedures like EUS/ERCP is highly desired. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: (1) Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. (b) 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: i. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care. ii. Ability to perform patient history and physical. iii. 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. (2) Physician Assistant-II (PA-II) (a) 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. (b) 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: i. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems. ii. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions. iii. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care. iv. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. v. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively. (3) Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) (a) Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multidisciplinary 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. (b) 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: i. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care. ii. 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). iii. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials. iv. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel. v. 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. vi. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is VN-03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-01 to VN-03. Physical Requirements: See VA Directives 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. 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.
