Physician Assistant - Psychiatry (Internal to VA employees) Inpatient/SDA

Job Title

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

Duties

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:

1. 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.
2. Provide mental health education/counseling and brief therapy of patients and their families.
3. Primary responsibility for care of patients when the clinic medical director is absent.
4. Conduct ongoing follow-up appointments for stable patients, including regular refills of medications, required lab and other tests and documenting progress.
5. Perform examinations and screening scales (such as AIMS, MoCA, HAM-D) and similar non-invasive examinations specific to the ongoing care of psychiatric patients.
6. Ordering appropriate laboratory tests, imaging studies, EKGs (electrocardiograms), and similar noninvasive tests.
7. Initiating and expediting consultation requests and scheduling special tests and studies.
8. 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.
9. Dispensing medications (including injections).
10. Providing education and counseling of the patient and the patient's family in preventive care, medical conditions, and the use of prescribed treatments and medications.
11. Performing preventive health activities (including intradermal testing).
12. Ordering appropriate prosthetic devices and medical equipment.
13. Recording notes on all procedures performed for which the PA is responsible.
14. Initiating ECT or TMS work up and scheduling.
15. Ordering diets.
16. Case management.
17. Conducting educational groups.
18. Perform treatment planning in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
19. Integrate the activities of the psychiatry clinic/ward with other patient care programs at the facility.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, 8:00am-4:30pm, Wednesday-Sunday

Telework: Not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen Chapman, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Bargaining Unit: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.