Physician Assistant - Occupational Health

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Scope Of Practice Core Elements

1. Conducting pre-employment (pre-placement), periodic, and return-to-work medical evaluations for VA employees in relation to their job duties and essential functions.

2. Performing fitness-for-duty examinations and determining medical clearance or limitations in relation to specific job requirements, including documentation of work restrictions, accommodations, and return-to-duty determinations.

3. Evaluating, diagnosing, and managing occupational injuries and illnesses, including musculoskeletal injuries, chemical exposures, infectious disease exposures (e.g., bloodborne pathogens), and other workplace-related conditions.

4. Providing treatment and follow-up care for occupational injuries and illnesses within the PA's scope of practice, in collaboration with or referral to other clinical services as appropriate.

5. Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests and procedures appropriate to occupational health practice, such as laboratory testing, imaging, pulmonary function testing, audiometry interpretation, and other surveillance-related testing in accordance with VA policy.

6. Participating in and performing job- or exposure-specific medical surveillance examinations (e.g., for asbestos, respirator use, hearing conservation, lead, or other OSHA/CDC/VA-mandated programs), including initial and periodic assessments and follow-up evaluations as indicated.

7. Providing and coordinating medical care related to occupational health for employees across settings, including establishing diagnoses, formulating and implementing care plans, and providing appropriate follow-up and referrals.

8. Ordering laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies, and obtaining and interpreting laboratory specimens related to employee health and exposure evaluations.

9. Ordering ancillary services (e.g., pharmacy, social work, physical therapy, employee assistance, or other specialty services) to support employee recovery, accommodation, and safe return to work.

10. Ordering VA specialty service consults and initiating requests for non-VA medical care and consults, when needed for occupational cases, in accordance with VHA and local facility policies and procedures.

11. Providing health promotion, disease prevention, and employee education related to occupational and environmental risks, injury and illness prevention, infection control practices, and general wellness.

12. Documenting clinical encounters, evaluations, and medical decisions in the electronic health record (EHR) and other approved systems in an accurate, timely, and complete manner, in accordance with VA policies and applicable accreditation standards.

13. Obtaining and documenting informed consent for occupational health-related treatments and procedures for which the PA is responsible, consistent with their approved scope of practice and applicable VA policy.

14. Providing counseling and education to employees regarding occupational risks, medical conditions, use of prescribed treatments and drugs, work restrictions, safe work practices, and preventive measures.

15. Prescribing or ordering medications, including post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccines related to occupational exposures, consistent with the PA's level of prescribing authority, VA formulary, and practice setting, including controlled substances as permitted by licensure, DEA registration, and VA policy.

16. Coordinating care and communication with primary care providers, specialists, and other health care professionals involved in the employee's care when occupational and non-occupational conditions intersect.

17. Other clinical duties as assigned, consistent with the PA's scope of practice and facility needs.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in Occupational Medicine specialty is preferred
• 4-5 years of experience in Occupational Health

VA Offers A Comprehensive Total Rewards Package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards

Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730-1600

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change Of Station (PCS): Not Authorized