The psychiatry physician assistant (PA) is responsible for the care and administrative needs of mental health patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The PA also functions as a coordinator between the attending physician and the other team members to include nurses and PMH NPs, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, LMFTs, LPCs, addiction therapists and other clinic personnel. The PA will also be directly responsible to the Outpatient or Inpatient Psychiatry Medical Director for all clinical and administrative duties.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
The Psychiatry PA will be responsible for the primary medical needs of inpatients and outpatients in the mental health clinics and wards. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of current psychiatric and medical problems, administrative assistance, quality assurance and educational support as detailed. Provide medical care and evaluation for both psychiatry inpatients and outpatients in the mental health wards and/or outpatient clinics. These patients often have concomitant medical problems and are multi-symptomatic. The PA may perform the following duties. Conduct initial psychiatric evaluations, including initial assessment interviews, history, and physical exams; lab, imaging, medication and psychotherapy consultation orders, aftercare plans and follow up visits. Following the initial evaluation, the PA will provide appropriate follow up care including reassessments of diagnoses and conditions, medication adjustments, and any further tests or consults indicated. Provide mental health education /counseling and brief therapy of patients and their families. Primary responsibility for care of patients when the clinic medical director is absent. Conduct ongoing follow up appointments for stable patients, including regular refills of medications, required lab and other tests and documenting progress. Perform examinations and screening scales (such as AIMS, MoCA, HAM-D) and similar non-invasive examinations specific to the ongoing care of psychiatric patients. Ordering appropriate laboratory tests, imaging studies, EKGs (electrocardiograms), and similar noninvasive tests. Initiating and expediting consultation requests and scheduling special tests and studies. Drawing blood specimens for testing, and obtaining other body fluid samples requiring comparably low levels of invasiveness. Making rounds for inpatients, and holding scheduled appointments for outpatients to observe and record patients' medical progress, and notifying the collaborating physician of significant changes in patients' condition. Mixing and starting IV (intravenous) solutions and administering IV medications. Dispensing medications (including injections).
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EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Recruitment Relocation Incentives: Maybe authorize for highly qualified applicants.
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
CME: Reimbursement maybe available (must be full-time with board certification)
Malpractice: It is their decision if they want to continue to carry malpractice insurance but they are covered under the FTCA.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Starting at $110,982 Per Year (VN 3)