Thoracic Surgery APC Lead

Major Responsibilities:

• Acts as a mentor and expert resource to advanced practice clinicians (APCs), which includes training/orienting, on-boarding, providing clinical work direction, and ensuring effective, efficient workflow and staffing coverage. Participates in recruitment, interviewing and hiring of employees, staff development, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale. Participates in or conducts annual merit-based evaluation process. Provides clinical and professional performance feedback to each APC for the practice. Obtains additional feedback regarding clinical and professional performance from other colleagues, including but not limited to, physicians, APCs, RNs, MAs, other support staff.
• Develops and maintains orientation plans, work improvement plans if necessary, clinical competencies, various communication tools, practice protocols, and scope of practice documents. Develops and monitors a quality improvement plan with physicians. Collaborates with professional and ancillary staff to ensure the provision of high quality and efficient patient care.
• Acts as liaison for communication between ancillary departments and actively participates in meetings/updates with Coding and Billing, Compliance, Pharmacy, other specialties as related to APC practice. Assists in program development by participation in practice goal setting, new program/service development/deployment, resource allocation, and community outreach in collaboration with physicians and operational leaders. Coordinates education for APCs related to specialty practice changes and updates. Supports excellence in patient care through sharing timely, up-to-date, evidence based research.
• Ensures area meets or exceeds standards for quality, patient experience, and safety. Ensures compliance with billing and charge sheet paperwork and ensures all billing is submitted in a timely manner. Collaborates with the manager and physician president on reviewing and revising operational systems and policies and procedures, and developing and maintaining staff competencies. Evaluates patient upon admission. Elicits a personal medical history, performs an appropriate physical exam and records and presents pertinent patient data to the physician prior to surgery.
• Assists surgeon with: diagnostic procedures, preparation of surgical site and equipment; insertion/removal of IV, lines, catheters, tubes, drains, and sutures. Functions as a surgical first assistant in the operating room, including pre and post-operative intervention. Ensures proper preparation, placement and secure maintenance of solution delivery lines.
• Orders, performs, and interprets procedures and diagnostic tests or studies, in the field of clinical specialty trained and determined competent by a physician, to manage simple conditions such as those produced by infection or trauma, as well as to assist in the management of more complex illness and injury. Examples could include: bone marrow aspirations, biopsies and harvesting, spinal taps, thoracentesis and paracentesis, injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care.
• Prescribes, recommends and regulates pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies across multiple care settings, including controlled medications that are warranted by patient's diagnosis or changing medical condition per written physician practice agreement or protocols.
• Provides clinical direction to nursing staff regarding the continued care of patients. Follows through with nursing staff to ensure patient receives recommended care. Maintains active communication with supervising physician.
• Instructs and counsels patients on operative procedures and physical and mental health including: diet, preventive health measures, health behaviors, self-care skills, disease, treatment options, and normal growth and development.
• Interprets and evaluates patient data as authorized by a physician for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients. Consults with physician as appropriate. Prepares, dictates and signs patient care plans and summaries of patient care. Maintains records according to established standards and guidelines. Adjusts patient care plan by reviewing and monitoring treatments and therapy plans.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Physician Assistant license issued by the state in which the team member practices, and
• Physician Assistant (PA-C) certification issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), and
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration, and
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required.

Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Physician Assistant.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in providing and coordinating care for patients with acute, critical and chronic health conditions as a physician assistant.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated leadership skills including delegation, team building, managing multiple priorities, problem solving, and decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as an effective member of a health care team.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, high stress environment while managing multiple demands.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively collaborate with and establish/build relationships with physicians and other staff.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively.
• Intermediate computer skills.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and twist continuously throughout the workday.
• Must have functional speech, vision, touch, and hearing.
• Must be able to:
• lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist.
• lift up to 20 lbs over the head.
• carry up to 40 lbs a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• push/pull with 30 lbs of force.
• perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs with a second person present.
• Will be exposed to the following hazards: mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, protective clothing and equipment (i.e., goggles, lead apron, gloves, gowns, etc.) must be worn as necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Fine hand manipulation required when working with surgical equipment.
• Atmosphere in work environment may contain fumes and odors. Exposure to products containing latex.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.