Physician Assistant

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 Responsibilities
• Serves as a provider in the outpatient clinic and hospital settings.
• Dictates clinic progress notes. Orders appropriate tests and develops patient treatment plans with physician approval.
• Performs joint aspirations/injections.
• Interprets x-rays.
• Applies casts, splints, braces, etc. under supervision of the physician.
• Removes staples, sutures, drains, etc.
• Affords triage and fielding 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
• Fulfills other duties within the guidelines per department and policy within normal scope and characteristics of the sponsoring/attending physician’s practice and current clinical privileges.

Qualifications and Experience

• 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
• AACLIS desirable; current CPR required
• 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.