Physician Assistant - Gastroenterology

Summary

The Medical Service Mission is to lead satisfied staff dedicated to providing high quality patient centered care at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) - a great tertiary training and research Veteran's hospital. This gastroenterology (GI) position supports this mission through administrative dependability - direct patient care - and support of their section's educational and research activities.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until July 13 - 2026 or until positions are filled
• Eligible applications received will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur
• The Physician Assistant (PA) is a dependent practitioner and therefore - must have a clearly designated supervising physician with one assigned back-up when first not available
• The supervising physician does not have to be on site
• however - he or she must be available telephonically for assistance or an alternative physician may be identified verbally to supervise or advise on an as needed basis
• Administrative Duties: Will abide by all Veterans Affairs (VA) rules and regulations pertinent to the scope of practice within any VA facility
• Be responsible for maintaining current clinical privileges and keeping licensure - cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) -and all other appropriate documents and training requirements up to date
• Be actively engaged in evaluating and addressing patient and clinic needs
• In addition - be expected to evaluate clinical performance - and formulate and implement plans to improve the care delivered to our patient population
• The supervising physician will abide by all VA facility By Laws regarding the supervision of physician assistants and review of medical charting
• The provider will perform administrative duties as directed by the supervising physician or agent of the supervising physician
• Complete all required encounter information in computerized patient record system (CPRS) in a timely manner
• Clinical Duties: Inform patients of biopsy results obtained during endoscopy when the GI staff endoscopist is not available in accordance with established timelines
• Assist in reviewing and in the disposition of routine GI consults for triage as needed
• Maintain a face-to-face designated clinic or VVS clinic for clinical evaluation and develop treatment plans under direct staff supervision as needed
• This will depend on the immediate needs of the GI Service as directed
• Work in conjunction with the Nursing staff to address Secure Messaging issues as needed
• Transcribe into CPRS routine prescriptions for colonoscopy preparation and refill GI medications as needed and notify by phone or secure messaging
• Be available to GI nursing services and technical staff as a consultant for any problems that arise during their routine work
• Assist the gastroenterologists in the endoscopy unit by discussing and educating patients about their endoscopic procedure - complete a pre-anesthesia assessment - place pre-procedure orders and obtain an informed consent
• Post-procedurally - discuss with patients the procedure results and provide post-procedural education
• Assist with the coordination of care that may result from procedural findings included but not limited to new diagnoses of malignancy
• Review upcoming procedures for indications - contraindications and appropriateness
• In cases where procedure orders are found to be contraindicated or not appropriate - the PA will discuss the case with available gastroenterologists
• Perform elastography of the liver by using FibroScan® and entering the interpretive result into CPRS
• Be proficient with patient contact with telecons and Video communications
• May have an independent established clinic for this method of contact
• Place community care consults into CPRS if services not available at ALMVAH
• Education: Duties may include teaching and trainee supervision as needed
• Maintain continued professional medical training and GI/Hepatology specific training needed to complete the clinical duties as outlined above
• Research Duties (if applicable) Clinical research conducted by established protocols with prior VA IRB approval may be an option dependent on needed clinical support
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am- 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized