Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

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Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; Schedule to be coordinated with your supervisor

Travel: Must be willing to travel once or twice a week up to 90 minutes from duty station (VA Sacramento)

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

CLINICAL (75%)

• Coordinates orthopedic care for inpatients and outpatients, focusing on the Joint Replacement Program and all orthopedic populations.
• Evaluates patients, documents consults, assessments, and plans; writes orders within scope and under the Chief of Orthopedics or designee.
• Performs clinical procedures, including minor surgeries, lidocaine and joint injections/aspirations, casting/splinting, and wound care.
• Delivers patient education, surgical counseling, and pre-/post-operative planning.
• Conducts pre-surgical history/physicals, admission orders, discharges, and assists in operations.
• Provides first-assist surgical support at Mather VA and affiliated ambulatory centers, per credentialing guidelines.
• Prescribes medications per VA policy; orders/interprets diagnostic studies and imaging.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary care with PT, OT, hospitalists, anesthesia, implant coordinator, OR staff, surgery centers, and orthopedic surgeons.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates evidence-based pathways for joint replacement and complex orthopedic cases.
• Develops, submits, and oversees Clinical Restructuring Requests (CRR) with the National Surgery Office.
• Monitors quality, efficiency, and outcomes for ongoing program improvement.
• Manages clinic/OR schedules, triages consults, pre-op processes, consents, and coordinates implants/vendor coverage.
• Leads orthopedic injection clinics (consent, preparation, education, documentation).
• Serves as primary clinical contact for NVCC/fee-basis coordination, PT, post-op care, and surgical authorizations.
• Handles patient/caregiver communications, phone calls, and clinical messaging.
• Oversees clinic inventory and equipment management.
• Instructs, mentors, and guides residents, trainees, and students.
• Collaborates with partners to resolve coverage, patient flow, and service needs.

EDUCATION, PROGRAM & ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP

• Develops/maintains clinical rotation with UC Davis PA Program; promotes educational partnerships at Mather VA.
• Serves as preceptor/mentor for PA students, residents, and new staff.
• Designs and delivers educational programming for staff, patients, and trainees.
• Participates in quality and process improvement to advance care and teaching standards.

ADMINISTRATIVE (25%)

• Attends committees and Process Action Teams; represents Orthopedics/Surgical Service as assigned.
• Implements strategies for clinic efficiency and outcome improvements.
• Coordinates in-VA/outside referrals, scheduling, tracking, reporting, and resolution.
• Oversees encounter editing, patient/complaint resolution, surgical volume and backlog updates, contract renewals, and prepares reports for VISN/OR committees.
• Maintains documentation, meeting records, action items, and tracks equipment needs.
• Facilitates care coordination with internal/external specialty providers.
• Performs other duties as assigned by leadership.

SPECIALTY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP

• Leads Orthopedic Joint Replacement Program development, integrating evidence-based practices.
• Sustains partnerships with PT, OT, anesthesia, hospitalists, Pause nurse, implant coordinator, centers, and others.
• Oversees clinical pathway implementation and quality protocols.
• Navigates VA regulatory/approval processes (including CRR).
• Acts as clinical champion for innovations, efficiency, quality, and strategic planning.
• Represents Orthopedics in VISN/national workgroups for program advancement.

Requirements

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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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete TB Testing and Immunization evaluations.
• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience working in Veteran Affairs joint replacement.

Physician Assistant IV (PA-IV) requirements (Clinical Leader/Administrative Leader)

PAs at the PA-IV grade level may serve as clinical leader or administrative leader. Clinical PA Leaders may be assigned to positions/studies where limited guidance exists as physician oversight is not required. Administrative PA Leaders are involved with strategic planning and administrative/managerial responsibilities for integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. A PA clinical leader/administrative leader may monitor or evaluate services or programs with interaction of senior administration

• Experience. PA clinical leaders/administrative leaders require five years of experience which included leadership assignments that involved formulating program objectives and priorities, implementing plans and practices, and 9 interpreting regulatory and organizational guidance to develop and implement policies and/or procedures.
• 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
  
  • Ability to assess information and make recommendations that may significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of programs concerning critical matters or key issues within the health care system.
  • Ability to schedule and supervise staff, students, or ancillary personnel, to include conducting performance evaluations.
  • Skill in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling an integrated program.
  • Skill in design, management of budget, and cost benefit analysis to ensure optimal stewardship of resources.
  • Ability to analyze complex medical care, organizational processes and/or systems, and develop and implement solutions that improve outcomes at the program or service level.
  • Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies or procedures to justify program goals and motivate assigned personnel.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Pre-placement Examination: Complete TB Testing and Immunization evaluations. See VA Directive/Handbook 5019

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.

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.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.