Physician Assistant, GS-0603-13, DSR – Madigan Army Medical Center – Tacoma, WA

“This job is a civilian position and does not require military service (including commission and enlistment)”

CLINICAL DUTIES:

The incumbent independently performs a variety of professional direct health care clinical duties within the field of general family medicine for the pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. Assignments include a wide range from routine to exceptionally complex activities including assessing, planning, evaluating, and modifying the plan of acute and chronically ill patients.

The PA makes independent decisions regarding the medical care required and in the interpretation and evaluation of processes resulting from continuing changes in the medical field due to new technological developments or conflicting requirements. Performs a variety of duties involving the full range of complex medical care that involve isolating and defining unknown medical conditions. Secures a more comprehensive and detailed health and medical history from the patient or a family member, records findings, and other ancillary materials. Using this information, makes independent clinical evaluations and recommendations in an effort to prevent complications by preventing disease occurrence or modifying its course. Examines patients and performs initial patient work-up and assessment of patients’ care and treatment; and, determines the need for and orders laboratory tests, X-rays, and other procedures necessary to complete assessment of the patient. Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings to recognize early stages of serious physical, emotional, or mental problems.

Provides surveillance of adherence to medical and primary care practices and procedures to stabilize chronically ill patients; adjusts regimens within established protocols recognizing when to refer the patient to the physician or other primary care members. Makes decisions concerning primary care needs of patients; works collaboratively with the physician team in patient evaluation, management, and revision of therapeutic plans; and, refers extremely or selected complex medical problems to appropriate next level of specialty care or medical management.

Performs outpatient surgical and non-surgical procedures as designated by credentials committee. Prescribes for and treats a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries. Treats patients returning for routine or directed follow-up and chronic illnesses previously documented in patients’ medical records.

Provides a full range of emergency services or crisis intervention, including lifesaving emergency procedures, in order to stabilize a patient within the scope of practice and approved protocols.

Writes prescriptions, orders the administration of medications, dispenses medication and prescribes controlled substances in accordance with scope of practice for Physician Assistants. Performs a variety of physical examinations such as school, employment, sports, annual, retirement, discharge, reenlistment, disability separation or retirement, and other special physicals. Orders laboratory tests, X-rays, etc., and arranges for physician consultation if required. Records entries into patients records to include history and exam findings, results of laboratory tests, X-rays, and other special studies, diagnoses, and treatment plans to include any treatment rendered during visit, drugs dispensed or administered in accordance with approved protocols, tests, or procedures ordered, notations of new prescriptions or changes in dosages to old prescriptions, and consultations for further treatment or evaluation.

Provides consultation, teaching, and coordination with patients and their family members regarding treatment and medical care. Evaluates the primary care aspects of patient care recognizing the impact of the care of other healthcare professionals and ancillary staff when reassessment by a physician or other staff professionals is required. Provides primary care and preventive services to healthy individuals, including guidance in common illnesses, accidents, child growth and development, alternative drug usage, etc. Evaluates the total health care needs of patients and develops plans to meet the patients’ needs.

Participates with the attending physician and other medical staff in interpreting and evaluating continuing changes in direct patient care, conflicting requirements, or technological development in the medical field. Plans with other professionals, and agencies involved in providing primary care services to patients and their family members, and coordinates the care provided. Incumbent independently develops new techniques and establishes criteria for providing improved, quality patient health care to clients and family members of their assigned hospital.

2. MEDICAL EDUCATION DUTIES:

Provides consultation, teaching, and coordination with patients and their family members of treatment and medical care. Coordinates with patients regarding physicians’ findings and diagnoses, laboratory results, follow-up treatment plan or the effect of medications prescribed in accordance with approved protocols. Provides educational management to patients and their families regarding disease processes and diagnostic tests; the therapeutic regimen including medication, diet, and follow-up care; methods of adapting medication and treatment to current lifestyles. Provides counseling to patients and their families for prevention of illness and maintenance of health in order to assist patients in attaining physical, mental, and social well-being. Oversees compliance with the preventive healthcare needs of adult patients visiting the clinic. Refers high-risk, unstable, or extremely complex patients to the physicians and emergency medicine. Performs emergency care as appropriate.

Basic Requirements for Physician Assistant:

Education: Graduation from a physician assistant educational program, accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or its predecessors, at a college, university, or educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Certification: Successful completion of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examination; must maintain status as a certified physician assistant, including completion of all requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and re-certification.

Licensure: Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician Assistant from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Exemption: You are exempt from the license requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0603 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Experience: A minimum of one full year of work experience as a certified physician assistant which includes obtaining medical history, performing examinations, prescribing medication, and determining appropriate medical treatment. This definition of experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone–no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-12).

Conditions of Employment
Position may require incumbent to work weekend call duties and evenings.
Appointment to this position is subject to a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
This position is subject to immunization screening. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
A pre-placement medical examination is required.
This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to applicant testing and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to sign DA Form 5019 requiring participation in random drug urinalysis testing.
Position requires to wear and use personal protective equipment as required and provided by the employer.
Must be able to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is subject to annual vaccination.

If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.

2. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy. The Proof of Eligibility document describes authorities commonly used in merit promotion recruitment and what document(s) are required to prove you meet the requirements of the authority.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $104,184.00 – $135,437.00 per year

Benefits: