Spinal Cord - Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant

The Physician Assistant (PA) is a licensed healthcare provider within the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI/D) Service. The PA delivers outpatient medical care to Veterans with spinal cord injury and related neurological impairments. Duties include assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, health promotion, chronic disease management, rehabilitation-focused care, and coordination of services under the supervision of a Staff Physician.

Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

• Manage a designated panel of SCI/D patients in collaboration with supervising physicians, following approved clinical privileges
• Perform comprehensive SCI-focused clinical assessments, including neurological and functional evaluations.
• Order, interpret, and apply results of diagnostic studies within PA scope.
• Prescribe medications and therapies permitted by licensure, facility policy, and credentialing, with physician oversight.
• Develop, update, and implement evidence-based treatment plans tailored to SCI/D patient needs.
• Initiate referrals to internal and external specialty services and coordinate follow-up care.
• Modify treatment plans based on patient response, clinical findings, and interdisciplinary team input.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Participate in interdisciplinary SCI team meetings and contribute to care planning discussions.
• Coordinate continuity of care across hub and spoke settings, collaborating with physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and others.
• Communicate effectively with team members to support seamless patient transitions and clinical coordination.

Patient and Caregiver Education

• Provide education on SCI-related health issues, preventive care practices, long-term condition management, and rehabilitation needs.
• Support patient self-management strategies and address caregiver questions related to SCI/D care.

Documentation and Compliance

• Document all patient encounters in accordance with VHA standards, regulatory requirements, and SCI service expectations.
• Meet SCI FPPE/OPPE competency indicators applicable to PA practice.
• Complete required clinical reminders, monitoring protocols, and ensure timely closure of consults.

Professional Standards

• Demonstrate professional conduct, ethical practice, and adherence to SCI/D Service and VHA policies.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, patient safety activities, and clinical process evaluations.
• Maintain compliance with facility credentialing, privileging, and continuing education requirements.

SCI-Specific Clinical Competencies

• Perform functional assessments of Veterans with spinal cord injury.
• Conduct comprehensive neurological examinations, including ISNCSCI/AIS assessments when permitted by credentialing.
• Contribute to development of rehabilitation-focused, interdisciplinary care plans.
• Coordinate specialty-specific care, including medical, surgical, rehabilitation, and ancillary services.
• Conduct safe prescribing, medication reconciliation, and adherence monitoring.
• Complete SCI documentation requirements, reminders, and specialty-specific monitoring activities.

Qualifications

• Must meet VA Physician Assistant Qualification Standards.
• Must hold an active PA license and national certification.
• Must maintain continuing education and clinical privileges.
• Experience in SCI, rehabilitation medicine, neurology, or related fields is preferred.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; part-time (28 hours per week) schedule to be arranged based on the needs of the agency.

US Department of Veterans Affairs