Physician Assistant (Mental Health Substance Abuse Clinic)

About the role

The W.G.(Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center is seeking a Physician Assistant for Mental Health's substance use clinic at the Kernersville Health Clinic in Kernersville, NC. The Mental Health Service Line provides care in several psychiatric settings: inpatient units, ambulatory programs, residential program for substance abuse, residential program for PTSD, emergency department, medical-surgical ward psychiatric consultation and geriatrics with extended programs. Physician Assistants are expected to provide medical care in those settings as required.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate psychiatric patients for medical management of non-psychiatric issues
• Make appropriate referrals/consults, follow-ups, and treatment plans
• Perform histories and physical examinations (H&Ps) on assigned patients
• Order routine laboratory, radiological and diagnostic tests, and may order electrocardiograms on assigned patients
• Perform venipuncture and arterial punctures to obtain tests on assigned patients
• Write medical orders and progress notes on assigned patients; provide patient education
• Apply accepted preventive health care measures to patients
• Consider all current medical center approved non-restricted formulary medication to be within the approved Scope of Practice, with the exception of chemotherapy medications and Clozaril
• Initiate Basic Life Support in accordance with current BLS standards, including automatic defibrillation in life‑threatening situations, and/or initiate Advanced Cardiac Life Support in accordance with current ACLS protocols, including defibrillation/cardioversion if ACLS certified
• Perform administrative duties such as quality assurance, peer reviews, and serving on various committees as directed by the ACOS/MH&BS or Administration
• Participate in the instruction of medical and allied health care students assigned to MH&BS
• Assist in the completion of required mental health clinic reminders and monitors
• Provide or assist in the process of evaluation and treatment of the presenting patient
• Actively participate in corrective actions against untoward responses to medical or psychiatric interventions
• Evaluate the patient to assess changes in physical and mental status
• Participate in various hospital committees, departmental and hospital in‑