Physician Assistant (Primary Care)

Physician Assistant

The position is located in Branch Health Clinic (BHC) 1007, USS TRANQUILLITY, within the Fleet Medicine Directorate (DFM) located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), North Chicago, IL. The FHCC is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty and eligible beneficiaries. The incumbent will serves as a Physician Assistant (PA) within a Primary Care setting.

Major Duties:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Performs initial and ongoing medical, physical, and psychosocial assessments.
• Conducts and dictates histories and physicals.
• Develops treatment plans and records progress notes.
• Triages patients, establishes working diagnoses, and administers treatment.
• Provides case management and follow-up evaluations.
• Generates referrals to other healthcare professionals and community agencies following established protocols.
• Practices across multiple disciplines including internal medicine, family practice, surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dermatology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and gynecology.
• Determines patient fitness for military or overseas service based on clinical findings and directives.
• Recommends appropriate patient disposition.
• Documents services provided in accordance with established procedures, including narrative summaries, medical boards, fitness-for-duty evaluations, competency determinations, and special evaluations for military members.

Supervision & Collaboration

• Works under the immediate supervision of an assigned preceptor.
• Ultimately supervised by the Senior Medical Officer or Officer in Charge of the Branch Health Clinic.
• Collaborates and consults with specialists and administrators within the department, clinic, or VA medical facility.
• Occasionally works at other clinics within DFM to support workload or staffing changes.
• Provides input on Command and Congressional inquiries and patient Quality Assurance concerns.

Teaching & Precepting

• Serves as a professional preceptor for Hospital Corpsmen, including sick call screeners and Independent Duty Corpsmen.
• Assists in precepting Physician Assistant students.
• May be asked to provide medical lectures within the clinic or FHCC.

Age-Specific & Culturally Sensitive Care

• Provides care appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and developmental level of each patient.
• Assesses and interprets age-related patient data to determine individualized needs.
• Considers age-related differences across VA and DoD populations within the FHCC.
• Demonstrates understanding of aging processes and adapts care accordingly.
• Maintains sensitivity to cultural and developmental factors.

Quality Assurance, Risk Management & Administrative Duties

• Assists in Quality Assurance and Risk Management activities.
• Participates in peer review functions.
• Attends medical staff and assigned committee meetings regularly.
• Other assigned duties as required.

Patient Education

• Educates patients on disease processes, self-management, medications, side effects, lifestyle recommendations, and required follow-up.
• Tailors education to patient learning style, developmental ability, and limitations due to disease or comorbidities.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 6:30am to 3:00pm (alternate work schedules may be considered)

Telework: Ad-hoc, as determined by agency policy and supervisor discretion.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.