Physician Assistant

Summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) plays a vital support role in our organization. In general, this individual is responsible for providing professional patient care and assistance to the Physician/Surgeon and the clinical staff. The Physician Assistant will be primarily involved with direct patient care in support of the physicians of the practice. Assists the physician in the outpatient clinic and hospital settings following protocols established by the physician and written practice guidelines to facilitate effective medical care and patient safety. The person in this position functions in the multiple settings (operating room, clinic) under the supervision of their assigned physician; may perform activities which involve an initial evaluation and treatment of the patient’s condition, as defined in the scope of the State of Illinois standards and the Physician Assistant Practice Act.

Responsibilities

• Hospital/Surgical Center Responsibilities (as applicable)
• Assist the Surgeon by rounding on patients in the hospital as directed.
• Performs hospital consults as directed
• Assists the surgeon with major and minor surgical procedures in the operating room.
• Positions, preps and drapes the patient, as needed.
• Closes surgical wounds and performs post-operative wound care
• Applies dressings, casts, splint brace, abduction pillows, etc.
• Performs minor surgical procedures within scope of licensure.
• Performs and/or assists with patient traction, adjustment, realignment and removal of traction.
• Responsible for coordinating patient care between the office and the hospital, writing orders for surgical patients both pre and post operatively, and reporting the condition of care of hospitalized patients to the physician.
• Coordinates patient discharge: prescriptions, discharge instructions, discharge summary, patient education
• Ensure operative reports are dictated no later than 48 hours after procedure
• Participates in on-call activities assigned by the physician according to the medical center policy on allied health.

Office

• Sees patients in the clinic both independently and with supervision. Dictates clinic progress notes. Orders appropriate tests and develops patient treatment plans with physician approval.
• Dictates H&P’s, consultations and discharge summaries.
• Performs joint aspirations/injections.
• Interprets x-rays.
• Applies casts, splints, braces, etc. under supervision of the physician.
• Removes staples, sutures, drains, etc.
• Assists in fielding/triaging physician calls.
• Reviews lab results, x-rays, and MRI/CT results prior to entering patient exam room
• Confers with physician regarding new patient findings and potential diagnosis and treatment.
• Administers therapeutic injections and performs minor procedures as needed
• Reviews pre-operative instructions and explains the surgical process to patients who are about to have surgery
• Provides diagnosis and treatment services to established patients and postoperative patients
• Prescribes medications, treatments, in accordance with physician protocols and ensures that all prescriptions and required notes are in patient’s medical record
• Formulates and updates patient care plans; consults with physician as needed
• Orders pre-operative tests, CT scans, and MRIs, and documents, utilizing the EHR software
• Follows applicable ICD 10 and billing guidelines.
• Returns patient phone messages at designated times throughout the day; follow through with appropriate action; documents action taken in patient chart

Scope of Privileges

Under the direct supervision of the sponsoring attending physician, the physician assistant (PA) may perform the following activities:

Patient Care

• Performs initial and on-going clinical assessment of patients.
• Obtains medical history and performs physical examination (countersigned by sponsoring/attending physician).
• Develops treatment plans.
• Performs basic patient care services including wound assessment, dressing change, suture removal.
• Performs minor procedures such as application of cast or splint, reduction of displaced fracture, suturing deep and superficial structures, joint injection.
• Performs additional procedures such as placement of traction pins, setting up traction, reduction of dislocated prosthesis (hip, knee, shoulder).

Surgical Assistance

• Obtains preoperative history and performs physical examination of patient.
• Functions as first or second assistant in the operating room on primary or incidental procedures for which the sponsoring/attending physician is approved.
• Provides preoperative and postoperative education to patient and family.

Medical Record Documentation

• Writes orders for treatment and diagnostic tests at the direction and co-signature of the sponsoring/attending physician.
• Writes orders for medications categorized as Schedule III, IV and V controlled substances, as defined in Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.
• Dictates reports (e.g. History and Physical, Operative Notes, Discharge Summary)

Performs other duties within the guidelines per department and hospital policy within normal scope and characteristics of the sponsoring/attending physician’s practice and current clinical privileges.

Work Environment

• Position requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, as well as manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Employees will occasionally be asked to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 pounds. Position requires lifting associated with patient transfers (up to 50 lbs.)
• Normal visual acuity and hearing are required.
• The employee will work under stressful conditions and work irregular hours.
• The employee will be exposed to bodily fluids on a regular basis.
• The employee will have frequent exposure to communicable diseases, blood-borne pathogens, toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinical environment.
• Travel to all associated hospitals and/or facilities required

Educational Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited physician assistant program with completed residency.
• Physician Assistant IL state licensure up to date
• Training in orthopedic care preferred
• Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
• Active Certification from NCCPA
• Active Licensure as Physician’s Assistant in the State of Illinois
• ACLS desirable; current CPR required

Qualifications and Experience

• At least two years of experience in a physician office or hospital preferred.
• Ability to make independent decisions about patient care
• History of exhibited competence, judgment, stability and professional integrity.
• Experience assisting physicians in surgery
• Experience diagnosing and treating patients
• Working knowledge of managed care basics, and experience working with a managed care and Medicare population
• Knowledge of practice management and EHR software
• Able to lift and assist patients, as needed.
• Must be a self-starter, highly organized with good time management skills.
• Able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to document/record information.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to work well and communicate professionally with physicians, patients and staff in all levels in the organization.
• Able to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time.
• Capable of prioritizing and organizing information to achieve a smooth flow of tasks in the office.
• Ability to interpret and explain an extensive variety of instructions. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strength and weaknesses of alternate solutions or approaches to a problem.
• Use good judgment to determine if a problem requires consultation, referral or evaluation by the Supervising Physician or other health care professional.