VA Physician Assistant Services (PAS) Office
Ways to Serve Veterans as a Physician Assistant (PA)
VA PA Specialties
When you picture the role of a physician assistant (PDF), 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.
The VHA has a history in employing PAs, has been progressive in changing the way PAs practice in the VA, and offers many benefits for PAs who chose to work in the VA. As the single largest employer of physician assistants(pdf) in the nation, VA can offer you a wide range of challenging opportunities across the continuum of care. 
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