Physician Assistant-Cardiology

The West Haven VAMC is recruiting for a Cardiology APP (Advanced Practice Provider) - Structural Heart Program
to fill one position which will be filled with either an Advance Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant.

Major Duties are as follows but not limited to:

• Provide direct patient care in Valve and LAAO clinics conducting comprehensive evaluations risk stratification and ongoing management of high-risk cardiac patients.
• Perform detailed pre-procedural preparation including imaging/lab review interdisciplinary coordination (CT Surgery Anesthesia Yale partners) medication optimization and thorough patient/family education.
• Support day-of-procedure activities: readiness checks care coordination post-procedure assessments discharge planning and scheduling of follow-up imaging/visits.
• Manage post-procedural care such as ECHO scheduling anticoagulation management interpretation of follow-up studies and identification/escalation of complications.
• Serve as a central coordination point for TAVR Mitral/Tricuspid repair PFO closure and Watchman pathways bridging multiple clinical teams across VA and Yale.
• Review and triage complex consults; collaborate with RN triage for routine referrals while independently evaluating high-risk consult cases.
• Provide extensive asynchronous case management and patient communication to support high-acuity Veterans with VA-issued direct-access phone contact.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in CPRS including clinical encounters consult management care plans imaging coordination and quality metric tracking.

• Valve Clinic: 1 day/week (expanding to 2 days/week).
• Watchman/LAAO Clinic: 0.5 day/week (expanding to 1 day/week).
• Participate in Structural Heart case conferences multidisciplinary huddles and coordination meetings with internal and external (Yale) providers.

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• Education. Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally candidates must meet one of the following:

1. Masters degree in any discipline; OR
2. Bachelors degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.

• Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
• Licensure. PAs must possess an active current full and unrestricted license to practice in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of Licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

• Experience and Education. The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:

1. Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR
2. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA ARC-PA U.S. Armed Forces or another accrediting agency. OR
3. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify but should be able to demonstrate develop or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II:

1. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
2. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
3. Skills to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
4. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
5. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

• Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently practice within multidisciplinary teams and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:

1. Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR
2. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA ARC-PA U.S. Armed Forces or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. OR
3. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.

• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify but should be able to demonstrate develop or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III:

1. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
2. Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill multi-symptomatic patients through facility
3. Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
4. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
5. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals health managers and other health care personnel.
6. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
7. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.