Physician Assistant (Surgery)

The Columbia VA Health Care System, which serves more than 90,000 veterans across 36 South Carolina counties through the main hospital and seven community-based outpatient clinics (in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Sumter). Services provided include Comprehensive medical care, mental health services, addiction/detox treatment, inpatient and outpatient care, and specialty clinics.

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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. EDRP: Authorized for highly qualified candidates. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov. Duties include, but are not limited to: 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. Admitting and discharging patients in consultation with, and on behalf of, the collaborating physician, obtaining admission history and performing physical examinations, conducting patient rounds, documenting progress notes and summaries in the patient record, and writing patient orders on assigned patients. PAs may be delegated the responsibility of documenting operative notes if the PA was present for the procedure, but the operative surgeon must review and co-sign the note. The PA may also be delegated the task of documenting the discharge summary, but the collaborating physician must write a discharge note, or co-sign the discharge summary written by the PA in accordance with The Joint Commission standards that are applicable. Other patient record entries by PAs, including medical histories, physical examinations, progress notes, service consults, 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. The PA's Scope of Practice must authorize obtaining informed consent for the treatment or procedure being performed. In addition, the Scope of Practice must authorize the PA to perform the procedure or provide the treatment for which the consent is being obtained or to actively participate as an integral member of the treatment team performing the procedure such as assisting the primary surgeon. NOTE: The PA need not participate in the particular procedure the patient is scheduled to undergo but the PA must be authorized to perform or participate in the procedure by their Scope of Practice and must 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. Writing orders for or prescribing medications as allowed. Other related duties as assigned. OR first assist Orthopedics clinic PA-I : $106,331-112,709 PA II- : $127,447-135,093 PA III-: $151,552-160,643 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

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.