Physician Assistant- Cardiology

Summary

The Certified Physician Assistant (PA) practices in Cardiology Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. This position is located at the University Drive Campus.

Duties

• The PA is a licensed practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients. - As a team with a Physician Cardiologist manages patients with acute and chronic cardiac care needs/health conditions, with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice. - Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management.- Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. - Coordinates and works in collaboration with physicians, peers, patients, families and allied services for appropriate diagnosing and treatment of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. - Order and interpret labs, tests, and diagnostic studies. - Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. - Initiate referrals and consultations with specialty services. - Provides education to patients and their families on cardiovascular health and disease prevention and prescribed treatment measures. - Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. - Exemplifies the ICARE core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. - Completes E-Consults and coordinate with physicians as needed. - Triage and complete e-consults or routes them to appropriate clinic or service. - Respond to consults, according to policy and procedure. - Determine the pathway to care including clinical evaluation and coordination of care. - Conducts telephone, face to face, VVC and CVT clinics.- Complete History and Physicals (H&P). - Rounds with cardiac surgery on post TAVR and Structural Heart patients, assist with discharge follow up/education. -Enter data in the VA VART-CL registry. - Assist with Cardiac rehabilitation acute events. - Evaluates, develops and implements treatment plans for inpatient/outpatient General Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmia consults and provide continuity of care, including follow-up for patients seen by the cardiology fellow. - Manages General Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmia patients following the management guidelines provided by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, and the Heart Rhythm Society. - Management of diseases may include but are not limited to patients with cardiomyopathies, including ischemic disease, valvular disorders, arrhythmia, and angina. - Reinforces education on diet/fluid intake, close monitoring of weights and vitals and labs, education on abstaining from things that may have caused cardiomyopathy and education on signs and symptoms of CHF exacerbation, introducing GDMT and tailoring medications to avoid readmissions. - Closely monitors to enable early recognition of Heart Failure to current therapy and need for timely advanced therapy referral, managing outpatient inotropes, reviewing home tele notes, initiating GOC discussions and working with the palliative team with end-stage heart failure. - Manages patients during the process of Cardiac Stress Testing including the use of exercise testing or inotropes with supervision from Physician Cardiologist where needed. - Participate in the management of discharge planning needs, including ancillary services. - Provides coverage across Cardiology subspecialties in both inpatient and outpatient settings, aligned with the provider's education, training, experience, and approved privileges. - Outpatient duties will include Cardiology clinics or E-consults at both VAPHS main campus or satellite sites including the Heinz Campus, Beaver, Washington, and Monroeville CBOCs. - Uses Telemedicine technology to provide evaluation and treatment as needed. - Addresses veteran responses or queries via secure emails, secure messaging, and patient phone calls. - Works closely with other specialists, residents, interns, fellows, and primary inpatient care providers. - Precept and assist with training residents, interns, and medical students. - Performs other duties as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (with occasional weekend requirements) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Experience in a broader range of cardiology (have rotated through and experienced different aspects of cardiology) Grade Determinations: 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. 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. 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 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: 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/. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

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/.

Requirements

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.

Grade: VN 00. . Apply by 2026-11-12 on USAJOBS.