Summary

The Birmingham VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC) Physician Assistant (PA) located in Medicine Service. The HPC PA reports directly to the Section Chief of Palliative Medicine. Physician Assistant-I (PA-I): $119 -768 - $159 -291 Physician Assistant-II (PA-II): $130 -547 - $173 -623 Physician Assistant-III (PA-III): $142 -296 - $189 -244

Duties

• The HPC PA is a licensed practitioner who will provide high quality patient centered care to veterans in different services throughout VA clinics and the VAMC's as assigned
• The Physician Assistant - in collaboration with the Medical Directors and Program Managers of assigned services - is responsible for the quality of care provided by the program - for the productivity of the program and for the development and implementation of programs and initiatives to meet the MEDVAMC mission
• The PA will function clinically as an independent health care provider working in conjunction with the HPC attending physicians
• Duties will include but are not limited to: Responds to all palliative care consults within 72 hours
• Initiates Out-Patient consults for Hospice care as needed
• Provide goal setting with Veteran and family - by initiating - and chairing Veteran/family meetings and recording the outcome of the meeting in the veteran's record to communicate veterans/families' goals for all involved staff to understand
• These meetings may be in the In-Patient or the Outpatient setting
• The veterans attending health care provider is encouraged to attend these family meetings
• Some issues of discussion may include code status - advanced directives - identification of resource needs
• These meetings will include the social worker - and chaplain to be in attendance as much as able
• Collaborates with veterans and the medical providers caring for the veteran at the time (provider may be urgent care/ER - primary care - or hospitalist) to be informed of the history and prognosis of the patient
• Available to Urgent care as needed - to assist with case-finding and goal setting
• Has direct interaction with the veteran and family in various venues - such as primary care visits at the time of the veteran's appointment - Oncology Clinic - subspecialty clinics and acute care settings
• Responsible for ongoing pain and symptom management with evaluation and adjustments as needed for Veterans under the care of the HPC service
• Provides care to inpatient palliative and hospice patients on the Palliative Medicine unit and throughout the hospital
• Special interest/skill in malignant acute pain management with availability to other medical providers for consultation
• Fills scripts for narcotics - palliative care medications and durable medical equipment requests as needed for HPC veterans
• Attends palliative care /hospice team meetings
• Attends palliative care memorial service as able - participating as requested
• Available to CBOC Physicians for consultative services as needed
• Assists with evaluating requests made for In-Patient palliative care admissions
• Contributes to VISN and National Hospice and Palliative Care workgroups as needed
• Participating in conference calls as scheduled
• Works to strengthen and progress the overall Hospice and Palliative care service in VISN
• Member of the facility's Cancer Committee - attend meeting as scheduled
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized