Summary
The PA will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Surgery Service. This individual is delegated the authority and responsibility in his/her area of expertise to assume major clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to this care.
Duties
Some core duties include: Obtaining medical histories and performing physical examinations. Providing and coordinating medical care for assigned patients in any care setting, including establishing diagnoses, formulating and implementing care plans, and providing follow-up care. Evaluating outpatients to determine the need for further health care. Ordering diagnostic studies and other special tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging {MRI}, Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, etc. Carrying out health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education activities. Ordering or obtaining laboratory specimens. Ordering ancillary services, such as, pharmacy, social services, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapies, prosthetic services, etc. Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults in accordance with VHA and local facility policy and procedures. Ordering patient care supplies. Writing orders for or prescribing medications for care of veterans on the Urology service. Other patient record entries by PAs, including medical histories, physical examinations, progress notes, service consults, compensation and Pension evaluations, and patient orders do not require physician co-signature unless specifically required by Federal law, VA policy, or the standards of applicable external accrediting bodies. Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatments and procedures for which the PA is responsible either as the provider providing treatment under Full Autonomy or Limited Autonomy, or participating as an integral member of the treatment team performing the procedure such as assisting the primary surgeon. The PA need not participate in the particular procedure the patient is scheduled to undergo as long as he is authorized to perform, participate in, or assist during the procedure and have sufficient knowledge and training in the treatment or procedure, its indications, risk and benefits, complications, and alternative treatments, to effectively counsel the patient. Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Preliminary EKG interpretation. Preliminary imaging interpretation. Ordering appropriate pre-procedure & pre-operative antibiotics (IM, IV, or PO) and/or other medications. Change dressings on surgical wounds. Obtain specimens in surgery or clinic for patient care diagnostic or treatment purposes. Perform other diagnostic or treatment procedures as qualified. Ordering administration of blood products. GU SURGERY EXPANDED RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities performed with full autonomy in the clinic and cystoscopy suite include: Obtains informed consents for common GU surgeries and procedures about which the PA is familiar with including the indications and associated risks and benefits. Triages symptoms and manages outpatients on the Urology service. Assists other health care professionals assigned to the Urology section with the coordination of medical care. Acts as a care coordinator for patients in the Urology section. Monitors appointment management software to ensure accuracy in scheduling practices. Reviews all outpatient Urology clinic profiles for accuracy. Provides peri- and post-operative teaching. Performs pre-operative history/physical examinations. Triages, assigns, and evaluates new patients referred to the Urology service. Insertion of urethral catheters. Urethral catheter placement over a wire. Removal or exchange of suprapubic tubes/catheters. lntracavernosal injections and teaching. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Cryoablation of genital lesions with liquid nitrogen. Removal of drains, ureteral stents, and nephrostomy tubes. Administer oral medications. Injection IV medications, start intravenous infusions of any variety, as long as hospital protocols regarding preparation of skin sites, checking of blood products, and attention to sterile techniques are followed. Performing procedures: Cystoscopy Cystoscopy with ureteral stent removal Cystoscopy with basketing of stones/ foreign body Transrectal ultrasound Urodynamic studies Responsibilities performed with limited autonomy include: Write discharge orders for outpatients (day surgeries). Removes intravenous and central lines. Insert intravenous lines. Performing procedures. Cystoscopy with biopsy and fulguration. Responsibilities performed with supervised autonomy include: Prostate needle biopsy under transrectal ultrasound guidance. Placement of prostate fiducial markers under transrectal ultrasound guidance for planned radiation therapy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0700-1600 Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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/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.
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/.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.