Physician Assistant (Primary Care)

The Physician Assistant (PA) provides direct patient care full time and works as a member of an expanded healthcare team - including social workers, dieticians, clinical pharmacists, behavioral health clinicians, and care managers - to oversee and coordinate medical care for a population of Veterans in a group practice setting utilizing the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model. The practice emphasizes evidence-based medicine, primary and secondary preventative medicine, the use of a computerized medical record system, and continuous quality improvement based on individualized provider data. This position on Orange Team takes care of a panel of patients in the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model. The team consists of the provider, an RN, an LPN or MA, and a scheduler who together take care of a panel of 900 patients. Mountain Home CBOC is a small clinic with about 2 PACT teams. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Clinical Practice & Patient Care

• Performs initial histories and physical examinations on outpatients.
• Provides ongoing outpatient and inpatient care for assigned patients.
• Screens outpatients to determine need for further care.
• Prescribes medications within defined scope of practice.
• Orders diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, and electrocardiograms (EKGs).
• Reviews need for and orders health promotion and disease prevention activities.
• Initiates, responds to, and expedites requests for consultations, special tests, and studies.
• Provides education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
• The supervising physician will review and countersign at least 10% of all progress notes.

Team Collaboration & Access

• Works as a member of an expanded healthcare team to oversee and coordinate medical care for a population of Veterans utilizing the PACT model.
• May occasionally need to work alone but can request assistance from other medical staff, including staff in the Emergency Room or inpatient service when needed.
• Back-up services are available in the Emergency Room as well as surgery, psychiatry, and medical subspecialties; patients requiring inpatient admission will be transferred to the admitting house staff team.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Attends staff meetings, team meetings, and some committee meetings, and completes peer review evaluations; time will be provided outside of assigned shifts to complete this work.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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:
  • Two years of successful practice as a 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.
• 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:
  • Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
  • Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
  • Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
  • Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
  • Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

• 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:
  • Three years of successful practice as a 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 and one year of professional practice as a PA. OR
  • 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. 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.

• 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.
• 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.