Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)

Description:

This PA position is in the Medical Service Department at the VA Maine Healthcare System located at the Togus location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, which closes on 6/24/2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 3/28/2024 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur, or on an as-needed basis, until positions are filled.

Requirements:

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.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States, Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Education: Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following:

Master's degree in any discipline;

OR

Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.

Certification: Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Licensure: PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.

Failure to Obtain Licensure: In all cases, graduate PAs must actively pursue and obtain required licensure from the date of their appointments. The human resource office will provide the unlicensed PA in writing the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. The written notice must be provided prior to the first date of employment. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.

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)).

Loss of Credentials: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required licensure or NCCPA certification when required under paragraph 3a below must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment (VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, paragraph 17).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

PA-I Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

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:

1. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
2. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
3. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
4. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

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.

OR

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

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:

1. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
2. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
3. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
4. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
5. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

PA-III Experience and Education: PA's at this 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.

OR

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

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.

Qualification standards continue in required documents section: