Summary

The Physician Assistant (Medication Management Team) position is assigned to Primary Care and located at the Veterans Health Care Center (HCC) located in Kernersville, NC

Duties

• The Physician Assistant (Medication Management Team) collaborates directly with the Assistant Primary Care Chief for services provided by Kernersville HCC
• The position functions are conducted via multiple modalities, including virtual and in-person care
• Safe and appropriate use of opioids, and all controlled substances, and treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) requires well-orchestrated, inter-professional, team-based care
• As aligned with this need, the Medication Management Pain Management Team (MMPMT) leverages the knowledge and skills of the Physician Assistant in coordination with the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) to collectively provide a highly specialized, coordinated, comprehensive medication management service
• This service includes, but not limited to the prescribing or deprescribing of opioids for pain, the assessment, and the treatment of OUD
• Primary duties are to provide pain services to a panel of patients at the Kernersville HCC through a combination of virtually and in-person as part of an inter-professional specialty pain care team in the \"Biopsychosocial Model of Pain Care\" and \"VA Stepped Care Model of Pain Care\"
• The Physician Assistant works as part of a virtual and in-person primary care team, together with patient site care team members, to provide pain care to Veterans
• In addition to medication management of Opioid Therapy and OUD, and as aligned with the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management (SCM-PM), the MMPMT Physician Assistant will provide high-level focus and support to integrated pain care by prescribing appropriate non-opioid pharmacologic alternatives in coordination and collaboration with other clinicians within the Pain Management Team (PMT) as applicable
• Medication Management care includes assessing for, providing, or assisting with appropriate referrals for nonpharmacologic treatment options as clinically indicated
• Major Duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Provides comprehensive pain care for Veterans via Tele-Health or in-person
• Performs initial histories and physical examination on outpatients using Tele-Health and/or in person visits
• Provides ongoing pain care for assigned patients Prescribes medications within defined scope of practice Utilizes evidence-based approach to medication management for chronic and acute pain
• Provides evidence-based approach to medication management for Veterans with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
• Orders and interprets of diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) Reviews opioid safety metrics (e.g., Provider Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), drug screening, Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation (STORM) reviews)
• Obtains consent for long term opioid therapy
• Initiates, responds to and expediate requests for consultations, special tests, and studies Provides education and counseling of patients and families in pain self-management, active treatment modalities, and use of prescribed treatments and medications
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings such as Pain Board, STORM and Kernersville Interdisciplinary team discussions
• Performs pain management comprehensive assessments and develops treatment plans for complex chronic pain patients
• Manages opioid medications and performs opioid tapers and detoxification when necessary
• Complies with current Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DOD) Long-term Opioid Therapy Guidelines, and local policies
• Treats patients with chronic pain
• Develops therapeutic care plans that are intended to achieve defined outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life
• Works as part of an interdisciplinary team of pain management providers
• Initiates, modifies, or discontinues medication therapies and serves as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• Performs other related duties as assigned in functional statement
• Work Schedule: 07:45 am - 4:15 pm (Alternate tour of duty may be required based on needs of agency) Telework: Ad Hoc (Determined by supervisor) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required