Physician Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Physician Assistant providing direct patient care and clinical support

• Scope: Occupational health, aviation medicine, and public health

• Team: Works with Registered Nurses, Health Technicians, and Medical Records Technicians

Description

The Physician Assistant (PA) actively sees patients and supports Supervisory Medical Officers by delivering a wide range of health services. The role includes urgent and emergent evaluation, integrated occupational/primary care, and expert guidance to officials and healthcare providers. In the absence of the Supervisory Medical Officer, the PA assumes primary care management and clinic oversight.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate urgent and emergent health care problems for approximately 10,000 patient visits annually

• Conduct assessments, history and physicals, and provide fitness-for-duty focused care

• Assess workplace injuries and illnesses

• Provide allergy immunotherapy shots and vaccinations

• Perform preemployment evaluations; on occasion perform drug and alcohol/substance abuse evaluations

• Provide emergency/urgent care measures, preventive health counseling, and prescribe medications/treatments within scope

• Order, conduct, and interpret laboratory tests and diagnostic studies/procedures

• Write medical orders as authorized by the supervising medical officer (within scope)

• In absence of the Supervisory Medical Officer, manage the clinic and coordinate internal/external resources for best patient outcomes

• Develop initiatives for clinical programs (allergy, occupational medicine, patient care, and workers’ compensation) with continuous improvement, data tracking, and efficient resource use

• Serve as Pharmacy Control Officer (pharmacy inventory) and/or Supply Control Officer (immunization and medical supplies)

• Monitor substance abuse for safety-sensitive positions per FAA directives; liaise with other medical facilities

• Maintain electronic and paper health records in line with Privacy Act and PHI policies; support research teams and QA/Risk Management

• Manage student education through controlled internships as required

Requirements

• US citizenship

• Selective Service registration (males born after 12/31/1959)

• Submit SF50

• Transcript(s) showing graduation from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program (or predecessor)

• NCCPA certification; maintain status with CME and re-certification

• Current, active, full, unrestricted Physician Assistant license/registration (state/DC/PR/territory)

• Minimum 1 year work experience as a certified physician assistant (equivalent to FV-I/FG-13)

• Successful completion of a security investigation may be required

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides a comprehensive benefits package; eligibility depends on the specific position type.