Physician Assistant (Podiatry)

Summary

The Podiatry Section functions under the overall management of the Section Chief of Podiatry. The Physician Assistant functions as part of an interdisciplinary staff of podiatrists, other clinicians, technicians, and administrative personnel. The PA independently organizes care within approved privileges, applies advanced clinical judgment to complex cases, and coordinates care across disciplines. The incumbent complies with established Surgery Service and Podiatry Section policies.

Duties

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In addition to compliance with national and local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements, this position includes the following responsibilities. Assigned time and resources are determined through service planning and approved labor mapping.

Duties are performed in partnership with Surgery Service leadership, the Section Chief of Podiatry, the Administrative Officer, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Administrative Duties:

- Attends required staff meetings; communicates appropriately through the chain of command; and assists with issue briefs, follow-up actions, and other service-level requirements related to patient care and operations.

- Maintains timely clinical documentation, open encounter and consult management, and other required electronic health record documentation.

- Participates in clinic management, access, productivity, relevant performance measures, quality and patient safety activities, and process improvement/system redesign initiatives.

- Supports appropriate use of resources and collaborates with clinical and administrative staff to improve continuity, efficiency, and timeliness of care. Clinical Duties: The incumbent is expected to remain appropriately credentialed, privileged, and practicing within the specialty area. Specific privileges and procedures are approved through the applicable VA credentialing and privileging process.

Duties may include:

- Evaluate foot and ankle conditions.

- Perform comprehensive and focused histories and physical examinations.

- Diagnose and manage podiatric conditions within scope of practice and approved privileges.

- Order and interpret laboratory studies, X-rays, MRI, CT, vascular studies, and other appropriate diagnostic testing.

- Perform wound assessment and wound care. 2

- Provide callus care and nail debridement when within approved scope/privileges.

- Provide diabetic foot evaluation and management.

- Provide post-operative follow-up and coordinate care with the operating podiatrist/surgical team.

- Apply or manage casts, splints, and off-loading devices as appropriate.

- Perform injections when within approved privileges and scope of practice.

- Educate Veterans and caregivers regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, preventive care, and follow-up.

- Collaborate with podiatrists and other members of the interdisciplinary team and initiate referrals/consults when indicated.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm or Supervisory Discretion

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/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.

Preferred Experience:

Have a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Physician Assistant, preferably in a surgical, podiatry, orthopedic, or other specialty-care setting. Experience should include performing comprehensive patient assessments, developing treatment plans, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, performing minor procedures in a clinical setting, providing preoperative and postoperative care, and managing patients in an outpatient setting. Experience collaborating with physicians and other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team is preferred. Prior experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs or another large, integrated healthcare system is desirable.

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-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-I to VN-III.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook and Directive 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.

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.

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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.