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Summary Omaha VA Medical Center is seeking a Physician Assistant to be the Clinical Coordinator for the Lung Cancer Screening Program. The Omaha VA is 1 of 14 sites throughout the VA system participating in the Lung Cancer Precision Oncology Program. This project is part of a national program to increase lung cancer screening in the VA system. This vacancy is posted as a Physician Assistant and Advanced Practice Nurse for one position. Please apply to the appropriate announcement for consideration. Responsibilities The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Physician Assistant (PA) will work with guidance from the local site investigator and existing lung cancer screening team members to assist with expansion of the current lung cancer screening program already in place in Omaha. The applicant will coordinate the day to day project activities, provide education about the project to providers and patients, track and coordinate ongoing patient care, and collect and report project evaluation data. The Clinical Coordinator will serve as an operational resource for local project team members. The coordinator will receive initial training for the role and on-going guidance and support for activities and local providers. The PA will manage the Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Program. Preferred experience: Minimum of 1 -2 years experience in pulmonary, lung cancer screening or oncology. Duties include: Education and Training: Organize and lead in-services to share information about the Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Program with clinical staff. Educate staff and patients regarding the risks and benefits of low-dose chest CT screening for lung cancer. Provide role orientation and training for new staff. Educate primary care staff on the specifics and goals of the program. Coordination and Communication: Interface with primary care teams to support recruitment to the project. Act as one of the primary points of contact for the Omaha VA Lung Cancer Screening Program. Communicate patient status information, attend outpatient clinics, tumor board, and other related meetings. Provide regular communication and reports to the LCS medical director. Patient Care and Follow-up: Assume primary patient care responsibility for patients in the Lung Cancer Screening and Nodule Program under the supervision of the medical director. Assist in determining the suitability for lung cancer screening, conduct shared decision-making visits with patients, and enroll them into the program. Ongoing monitoring and scheduling of patient screening exams, procedures, clinic appointments; monitor and assist with follow-up of abnormal findings. Provide referrals to smoking cessation programs, with future opportunities to become a tobacco cessation specialist. Data Management: Maintain pulmonary nodule and follow-up care databases. Lead the collection and submission of project data into a national database. Clinical and Administrative Support: Work with local and national clinical applications coordinators to ensure project clinical reminders and templates are implemented appropriately. Optimize patient-centered care practices through education, care management, and appropriate system processes. Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, including pulmonary and thoracic tumor conferences, to design patient treatment plans. Identify protocol problems and assist in problem resolution efforts. Program Development and Participation: Participate in continuing quality and safety initiatives, continuing medical education programs, and other relevant activities. Engage in periodic national teleconferences and LCS workgroup quarterly meetings with radiology, pulmonology, and primary care. Coordinate Lung Cancer Screening at affiliate VA Hospitals. Stay abreast of the latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant to the specialty; serve as a resource person for the Medical Center Staff. Interact with research staff to assist with clinical trials related to lung cancer screening and identify appropriate patients for treatment trials. Administrative Duties: Enter diagnostic imaging and laboratory orders, interpret results, and discuss appropriate plans and interventions with the work group. Obtain workload credit for appropriate Lung Cancer Screening activities. Other Duties: The Lung Cancer Screening coordinator will assist with the Incidental Lung Nodule Program on an as needed basis. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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. 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: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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. 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: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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. 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: 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. 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-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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III. Physical Requirements: This work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interact with the patients and other services. 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.