Physician Assistant
Overview
Physician Assistant Joint Base San Antonio
Time to invest in some new footwear because if you're San Antonio-bound, you'd better show up in boots ! The Alamo City is one of the military's most envied postings and is often referred to as "Military City USA". Low cost of living, affordable homes, and the lack of state tax on retirement income are a few financial perks to living and retiring in this Texas city. A robust job market that seems partial to government and defense/security contracting ensures employment opportunities for spouses or transitioning service members. San Antonio is the country's seventh fastest growing city yet has somehow managed to retain a "small town feel." Quality schools and friendly locals (most with military ties) are additional perks to living in San Antonio.
Some things you should know before you get here: trucks are the norm (the bigger, the better), love for The Spurs (NBA) runs deep, the H-E-B obsession is real (it's a grocery store), rodeos are life, and don't call it "San Antone"-that's just wrong. The community boasts a vibrant Hispanic population, and enhances everything from the food, to the music, to community events. You don't necessarily need to speak Spanish to get around, but you'd better know how to say barbacoa, tamales, and cascarones.
Name brand shopping (IKEA is the latest arrival of note), restaurants, and all variety of entertainment all add to San Antonio's quality of life. SeaWorld, the San Antonio Zoo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and downtown museums are all fun outings for kids and families. Tube or kayak down a river, play or fish in the lakes, or relax by San Antonio's famous downtown River Walk. Museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks- remember The Alamo? -round out San Antonio's cultural offerings. Tex-mex cuisine arguably originated here, and some up and coming culinary trendsetters are making a name for themselves in the Pearl District downtown, alongside several notable breweries.
San Antonio has over 300 days of sunshine with some hot summers, mild winters and pleasant spring and fall seasons. San Antonio is in Bexar County (it's pronounced "BEAR") in south central Texas, and is just south of the gorgeous Hill Country. It's only about two hours from Austin, the beach, or the desert.
Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/
Responsibilities
POSITION DUTIES:
Serves as a direct primary health care provider in the capacity of a credentialed Physician Assistant (PA) providing primary medical services to patients ranging from the ages of one year of age through geriatric. The incumbent serves in a Primary Health Care Clinic (e.g., Family Practice Clinic, Troop Medical Clinic, or Physical Exam Clinic) or in specialty clinics (e.g., Emergency Room, Urology, Pain Management, TBI Clinic, Orthopedic Clinic, Occupational Health Clinic, or Pediatric Clinic) of a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). The incumbent performs a variety of professional direct health care clinical duties within the field of general medicine. Responsible for the independent examination, diagnosis, and treatment within personal credentials and privileges delineated by the hospital Commander. Provides services to military and their family members and retirees at the local MTF installation.
1. CLINICAL DUTIES:
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 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.
PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.
Qualifications
1. Incumbent must obtain and maintain all current regulatory requirements for certification and/or licenses. Must possess the prescribed credentials and/or license for practice approved by a nationally recognized professional body. Clinical privileges will vary among employees within the scope of practice since each direct primary care provider will have differences in education and experience, (e.g., Family Practice, Emergency Room, Physical Exam, Occupational Health, etc.), as well as any physical handicaps or limitations. Must obtain and maintain a current certification through the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistant (NCCPA). Incumbent must also maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
2. This position is subject to Section 231, Crime Control Act of 29 November 1990; Section 13041, Title 42, United State Code; and Section 1094, National Defense Authorization Act (for fiscal years 1992 and 1993) of 5 December 1991. Employee must obtain and maintain a favorable result from a criminal history background check as a condition of employment.
3. Employee is required to pass a pre-appointment physical.
4. Employee will be required to wear and use personal protective equipment as required and provided by the employer.
5. In accordance with memorandum, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), 23 October 1996, DOD civilian personnel hired on or after 1 January 1997 and with duties involving direct patient contact are subject to complete a series of three immunizations against Hepatitis.
6. Work is subject to rotating shifts and/or irregular tours of duty to include weekends, nights, and/or holidays, depending on area of assignment.
7. This position requires prescribed credentials and/or license for practice in the capacity of a direct health care provider. Clinical privileges will vary among employees within the scope of practice for each health care provider's education and experience.
8. This is an inclement weather position. The incumbent is expected to make every attempt to report for duty on time and/or remain on duty during inclement weather conditions.
9. Occasional TDY - 5%