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Summary The Lexington, Kentucky VAMC Lead Physician Assistant is a senior member of the PA staff with proven clinical experience, who possesses a thorough understanding of integrated processes of patient care and possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities to interact effectively across interdisciplinary teams, including medical, nursing, and administrative staff. Responsibilities Duties and expectations may include, but are not limited to: As an agent of the immediate medical supervisor - interventional radiology physician, the PA is authorized to write medical orders on patients assigned to the service for care. Every order given by the PA is therefore considered as coming from the immediate medical supervisor. All orders written by the PA will be within the parameters of this Scope of Practice. All consultations, reports of histories and physical examinations, and special examination records written by the PA will clearly identify the provider as a physician assistant. The PA is authorized to perform the following task on a regular and ongoing basis, without a specific prior discussion with the immediate medical supervisor. Leadership: Participation in staff meetings, hospital committees, and peer review process. Demonstrate effective communication to other staff and up to leadership, to include input to heads up messages (for acute patient bad outcomes) and issue briefs. Participate in Clinical Pertinence Reviews (routine medical record reviews). Credentials: Maintain VA training requirements and timely completion of documentation and upkeep of credentials required for scope of practice. Participate in the FPPE/OPPE process. Ensure orders or prescriptions written comply with the parameters of state licensure and scope of practice. Organizational: Adheres to employee health requirements. Time/Leave Management: Adherence to policy for assigned tour of duty and timely requests for leave in VISTA and for clinic cancellations. Clinical Management: includes indirect patient care; accurate and timely open encounter and consult management/coordination, adheres to CPRS documentation rules and requirements and to clinic procedures for patient scheduling and access; facilitates clinic staff productivity; oversight of relevant performance measures; and participates in the development of the new focus on the Medical Home and Patient Centric Care, Utilization Management, and Patient Safety initiatives, and process improvements (system redesign). Coordinates patient care through inter-service agreements. The Physician Assistant will perform Utilization Management functions which include but are not limited to protocolling of advanced modality procedures as well as determining clinical indication and recommendations for imaging studies. The physician assistant will perform administrative duties as directed by the supervising physician or agent of the supervising provider. The Physician Assistant is expected to maintain active scope of practice and credentials and to practice in his/her specialty field. The exact scope of practice for a particular Physician Assistant will be approved by the Professional Standards Board. All Physician Assistants must meet the following competencies: Patient Care, Medical/Clinical Knowledge, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Professionalism, and Systems-based Practice. Performs diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic procedures requiring fluoroscopic guidance including but not limited to upper gastrointestinal studies, barium enemas, hysterosalpingograms, and arthrograms. In conjunction with supervising and consulting physicians, performs complete evaluations on, develops treatment plans and implements therapeutic intervention for, and provides appropriate follow-up care to inpatients. Provides education and counseling to patient/family in the areas of health promotion, maintenance, and disease prevention. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team, enacts treatment plan, provides education, and ensures appropriate follow-up. Records all physical findings in the patient's medical record and has notes counter signed at the request of the supervising physician. Acts as a consultant/mentor to PAs in lower grades and other clinical and support staff. The physician assistant will abide by all Veterans Administration (VA) rules and regulations pertinent to the scope of practice within any VA facility. Keeps abreast of the latest trends, skills, procedures, equipment, guidelines, and protocols relevant to Interventional Radiology. Demonstrates leadership in developing productive working relationships with groups in other programs, services, academic settings, and community agencies. Shares medical literature research findings with colleagues to enhance patient care delivery. Research medical literature and applies evidenced-based medicine to improve clinical practice. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: AD-HOC Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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. 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). 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. Preferred Experience: a. Senior PA (Grade 3) in good standing b. Proven record of leadership with evidence of strong advocacy for the PA profession c. Solid understanding of pertinent VHA Policies and Directives to include VA Handbook 5005/134 PA Qualification Standards, VHA Directive 1063: PA Practice Authority, PA Occupational Codes HR Smart 2024, Above Minimum Entry Grade Worksheet and PA Pay setting, awards, and promotion tools, ePerformance, and PA functional statements. d. Willingness to spend off time working on PA advocacy and support activities (i.e., meeting with interested PA candidates for hire, orientating new hires, meeting the VACO and VISN leadership, etc.) e. Prepared to attend biweekly MEC assemblies, meet with HR for PA pay setting, serve as SME for Director, COS, Department and Service Chiefs on topics specific to PAs, and attend monthly national Chief PA meeting via TEAMS Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-IV (PA-IV) Positions may include but are not limited to: Facility or Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Lead PA, Facility PA Education Lead, PA Residency Program Director, or other Clinical and/or Administrative leadership assignments. (a) PA (Facility Lead). Facility lead PAs have a thorough understanding of the various functions involved in the care of patients, and the ability to interact effectively with different medical and surgical specialists, health care team members, and administrative staff. Facility lead PAs have the knowledge and expertise pertaining to PA employment, credentialing, clinical practice, and appropriate utilizations of PAs. A lead PA can monitor patient care operations, polices, and work performance of fellow PAs. i. Experience. PA facility leads require five years of experience, which includes progressively responsible leadership assignments, such as serving on any local committees, workgroups, or taskforces. The PA may exhibit knowledge of PA VHA employment and utilization of PAs through demonstrative actions as a facility point of contact (POC) for PA issues, policies, and directives. ii. 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-IV: a. Ability to provide clinically and occupationally focused orientation to new PA appointees and mentoring other PA staff members. b. Knowledge of the FPPE and OPPE processes to evaluate and assess patient care services provided by PA staff. c. Knowledge of the educational needs of PAs. d. Ability to provide leadership and clinical oversight of PAs at the facility. e. Ability to exercise independent judgment, perform tasks involving special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines. f. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of professional clinical staff. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is Grade 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Grade 1 to Grade 4. Physical Requirements: Include repetitive body movements including: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position is typically non-sedentary, and frequently involves being in the standing position. This position requires moving about accomplish tasks, such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next. This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position. Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next, i.e.- from the exam table to the chair, and in the movement of equipment or supplies. 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.