Physician Assistant

General Statement of Duties

This position is responsible for providing medical care as delegated by the physician.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Counsels patient/family on preventative health care.
• Conducts physical exams, assesses health status, orders and interprets tests, prescribes medications, and treats illnesses including giving injections and suturing wounds.
• Maintains department statistical database for research purposes.
• Makes responsible decisions within the scope of the dependent medical practitioner.
• Maintains continuity of care by monitoring therapies.
• Prescribes medications.
• Responds to emergencies including the use of CPR.
• Sets up and maintains equipment.
• Triage patient calls and evaluates patient problems.
• Trains other staff.
• Works collaboratively with all members of the health care team.
• Writes and reviews patient notes.
• Works with physicians as needed and refers to physicians for more complicated medical cases or cases that are not a routine part of a PA’s scope of work.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree and successful completion of an accredited physician assistant program.
• National certification from the National Commission on Certifications of PAs.
• To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years.
• A PA state license is required.
• A current CPR certificate is required.

Experience

• Four years of healthcare experience before applying to the PA program.
• One year of experience as a PA, preferably in a clinical setting.

Abilities

• Ability to make responsible decisions within the scope of the dependent medical practitioner.
• Ability to develop health education programs and materials.
• Ability to work collaboratively with all members of the health care team.

Skills

• Skill in gathering and analyzing physiological, socioeconomic, and emotional patient data.
• Skill in accurately evaluating patient problems in person or via phone and providing appropriate advice, intervention, or referral.
• Skill in evaluating and revising care plans based on patient changes.

Environment

• Normal office environment.
• Some travel within the community.

**This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions may change as needs evolve.**