When you picture the role of a physician assistant (PA), you probably imagine practicing in a traditional clinical setting, like one of our medical centers. However, the opportunity to serve Veterans can take many forms in many locations.
As the largest health care system in the nation and the single largest employer of physician assistants, we offer access to a wide range of challenging opportunities across the continuum of care, including a few fields that may not immediately come to mind when considering a career at VA.
Geriatrics
Looking to assist Veterans who need you now, more than ever? VA operates a number of residential care centers, community living centers, nursing homes and state Veteran homes to assist Veterans who are unable to live independently. These facilities can offer 24-hour skilled care and occupational and physical therapy, as well as hospice and palliative care, or special care for Veterans living with dementia.
Home-based primary care
Home-based primary care provides primary health care to homebound patients who live in the community. This program is designed to serve the chronically ill toward the end of life, providing primary care, palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management and coordination or care services. PAs play an important role in this service, meeting with Veterans and being the face of VA in a Veteran’s home.
Mental health
VA’s mental health physician assistants work in inpatient or outpatient settings and specialize in virtually all areas of mental health and psychiatry, focusing on everything from mental illness to traumatic brain injuries. VA sees PAs as a critical component of the interdisciplinary team, providing medical services that would traditionally be provided by physicians.
Rehabilitation
VA’s rehabilitation services promote health, independence and quality of life for Veterans with disabilities. Rehabilitative care services may focus on more traditional physical rehabilitation, but can also explore assisting Veterans with issues like blindness and hearing loss. These programs may also assist Veterans interested in recreation therapy. Regardless of the specialty, a PA working with rehabilitation units will work with the interdisciplinary team to find the best solutions for their Veteran patients.
Telehealth
As part of a team bringing VA medicine into the 21st century, telehealth work connects Veterans with VA care teams, including PAs, remotely. This reduces the need for travel and brings care closer to Veterans, especially rural Veterans. This can be done through real-time video visits, remote monitoring and the use of devices that gather and store health data.
Work at VA
Whatever opportunity you’re looking to explore as a PA, we have a way to get you exactly where you want to go, both professionally and personally.
- LEARN what VA has to offer physician assistants (PDF).
- EXPLORE our mission to serve Veterans.
- READ about benefits of joining our team.
- APPLY for jobs at VA.
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Whether it’s access to the great outdoors or a calmer pace in your everyday life, you can find it in rural VA communities around the country.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to provide care to Veterans outside a traditional clinical setting, Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) is a great option.
A key part of your job search is finding the right fit for you and your skills, and workplace culture can impact that dramatically.
I am a combat veteran with 42 years experience in ER as a PA. Have applied 5 times to the local VA when they posted jobs & have been turned down within 12-24 hrs. for all 5 positions. No interview, no other contact exept to be rejected. Seems curious that they want healthcare workers but turn down qualified ones without even a phone call or reason.
I couldn’t agree more. The hiring process at the VA not only changes from location to location, but it also defies both common sense and the natural order of the universe. I could easier explain the mathematical proof of black holes than the VAs recruiting process. I’m a PA, a retired officer, and a disabled combat vet, and I’ve been offered one job…for a $40k pay cut. All others, no answer, or I get “not qualified,” which is impossible. Broken, broken, broken.
Y do I pay for med care when I’m 100 percent va