Summary The Physician Assistant (PA) is a credentialed health care professional who provides patient centered medical care to assigned patients as a member of a health care team. PA's practice with clinical oversight, consultation, and input by a designated collaborating physician. Although PA's are not Licensed Independent Practitioners, they are authorized to practice with defined levels of autonomy and exercise independent medical decision making within their scope of practice. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. This position is open to both Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. If you are a: Nurse Practitioner, apply to VIN: 12804520 Physician Assistant, apply to VIN: 12804519 The RCI aims to streamline the referral and consult management process by ensuring timely care delivery and helping Veterans make more informed decisions about where they receive their care. The Referral Coordination Physician Assistant (RCPA) for whom this functional statement applies is assigned to the RCI at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center. The incumbent requires the ability to access, interpret, and apply standards of care for the Hershel "Woody" Williams RCI and is a content expert. They are responsible for identifying community care eligibility and working with Veterans to determine the best modality to receive the care for those patients referred for specialty care, including Best Medical Interest. The RCPA will deliver education, referral, and wait time information to patients. This position serves as a resource to other health care providers within the Medical Center and is responsible for assuring compliance with appropriate accrediting/regulatory bodies such as Joint Commission, CARF, SOARS, and OIG. The incumbent is responsible for participation in quality improvement initiatives and maintenance of standards to maintain Joint Commission and CARF accreditation. The RCPA works in close collaboration with defined Physicians and other health care providers to aid in the development of site-specific care coordination agreements, ensure timely specialty care, determine community care eligibility, determine Best Medical Interest, and provide support to the Veteran ensuring informed decision making. The RCPA possesses the knowledge of care management principles within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting, which will then enable timely, appropriate disposition of patients. The RCPA will demonstrate knowledge of the MISSION Act, care coordination agreements, and skills necessary to provide appropriate triage of specialty consults and determination of Best Medical interest. Supervisory Controls The incumbent is responsible to the Referral Coordination Coordinator and practices independently, exercising independent judgment in day-to-day activities. Supervision/consultation is of an administrative and professional nature; with the Coordinator providing guidelines as to the general policy and direction of the RCI. In unusual or complex administrative and clinical problems, the incumbent initiates consultation with the Chief of Staff as well as with other authoritative resources within the Medical Center, such as Regional Counsel, HAS, Fiscal, and Human Resources with the support and recommendations from leadership. Work Schedule: 730am-4pm. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule. 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 basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:Physician Assistant-I (PA-1) 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: Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care. Ability to perform patient history and physical. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient. 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 hand 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 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 1 to 3. Physical Requirements: Horizontally position to position. Lifting may be done in the movement of equipment or supplies. Exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Fingering/hands: This position requires constant writing or otherwise working with fingers and/or hands, including one or both hands to include duties such as entering information into the computer, etc. Vision: This position requires constant ability to see near and far, requires depth perception and the ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of colors when reading computer monitors, etc. Balancing: This position requires constant maintenance of equilibrium to prevent falling such as assisting co-workers and external customers with activity. Bending: This position requires frequent bending of the body downward and forward to assume appropriate-level position to retrieve items. Kneeling: This position requires occasional bending of legs at knee to come to a rest or kneel to assume an appropriate-level position for retrieval of items. Crouching: This position requires occasional bending of the body downward and forward to assume an appropriate level position to retrieve items. Pushing: This position requires occasional use of the upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward or outward, as in pushing of AV equipment. Exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Education Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Note: Current VA Physician Assistant's employed prior to September 5, 2014 are exempt from this requirement) ~AND~ Graduate of a PA training program, or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Must have 3 years of professional practice as a PA; or 2 years of professional practice as a PA and successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program accredited by ARC-PA or by the U.S. Armed Force; or 2 years of professional practice as a PA and a Master's degree from a PA training program certified by ARC-PA or in another health related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or A Doctoral degree in health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of 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. Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care. 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.