Physician Assistant - Pain Management

Summary

The Pain Management Physician Assistant (PA) is responsible for providing pain management services with a Whole Health approach. competent - evidence-based care to patients. The PA is a professional with advanced clinical knowledge and competence to provide profession assessment - coordination - and planning of multiple health care services. The Pain Clinic PA will report directly to the Chief of Pain Management.

Duties

• Core functions include but are not limited to - diagnosing - and treating chronic pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) problems based on Specialty Pain Care focused services - screening assessments - and prescribing medication and treatment
• The Physician Assistant (PA) will provide pain management and OUD care as aligned with and inclusive of health promotion - screening - and the Whole Health Model of care and disease prevention to patients - families - and caregivers
• Accountable for the management and evaluation of patients under PA care
• Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care - recognizes significant abnormalities - and makes dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings and patient-centered assessment
• The Pain Management Team leverages the knowledge and skills of the PA to provide highly specialized - coordinated - comprehensive medication management service - to include but not limited to the prescribing or deprescribing of opioids for pain and the assessment and treatment of OUD
• In addition to medication management of Opioid Therapy and OUD - and as aligned with the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management (SCM-PM) - Pain Clinic Mid-level will provide high level focus and support to integrated pain care not only by the prescribing of appropriate non-opioid pharmacologic alternatives but also - in coordination and collaboration with other clinicians within the Pain Management Team/Clinic - as applicable - by assessing - providing - or assisting with appropriate referrals for non-pharmacologic treatment options as clinically indicated
• The OBVAMC Pain PA holds clinical privileges and practices in collaboration with multi-disciplinary staff
• Clinical core privileges include: the evaluation - treatment - and management of chronic pain conditions and ordering - performing - and interpreting labs - radiography - and other diagnostic tests for chronic diseases in an adult population in Pain Clinic
• The OBVAMC Pain Clinic PA prescribes and dispenses medication in accordance with their State Licensing Nursing Practice Act - Overton Brooks VAMC policies - and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
• Recognizes adverse drug reactions to pain medications and makes appropriate adjustments in therapy in a patient-centered approach and provides flexible - patient-tailored follow-ups - while leveraging available resources
• Works seamlessly with all members of the health care team and the OBVAMC Pain Clinic uses professional standards of care - scientific evidence - and practice to evaluate unit activities
• 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: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday - Friday Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized