Physician Assistant - Pain Management

About the Role

Founded in 1991, IBJI is the largest orthopedic group practice in Illinois. With more than 150 physicians in every orthopedic specialty, IBJI offers care for adults and children from some of the most accomplished and respected orthopedists in the country. Serving northern Illinois and northwest Indiana with over 100 locations, IBJI makes it easy to access care. Our headquarters is in Park Ridge, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Our clinical services include advanced MRI imaging, pain management, non-surgical and surgical treatment plans, rheumatology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, wellness, and sports and sports training. Ortho Access walk-in clinics provide same-day care for orthopedic injuries. Comprehensive care offered all in one place enables physicians, therapists, and staff to work closely together, so that patients and families achieve better outcomes. Collaborative care is also more efficient. In many cases, IBJI services are substantially less expensive than those provided by large healthcare systems and emergency rooms.

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 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.
  • Perform hospital consults as directed.
  • Assist the surgeon with major and minor surgical procedures in the operating room.
  • Position, prep, and drape the patient, as needed.
  • Close surgical wounds and perform post-operative wound care.
  • Apply dressings, casts, splints, braces, abduction pillows, etc.
  • Perform minor surgical procedures within the scope of licensure.
  • Perform and/or assist with patient traction, adjustment, realignment, and removal of traction.
  • Coordinate patient care between the office and the hospital, write orders for surgical patients both pre and post-operatively, and report the condition of care of hospitalized patients to the physician.
  • Coordinate patient discharge: prescriptions, discharge instructions, discharge summary, patient education.
  • Ensure operative reports are dictated no later than 48 hours after the procedure.
  • Participate in on-call activities assigned by the physician according to the medical center policy on allied health.
  • Perform other duties within the guidelines per department and hospital policy within the normal scope and characteristics of the sponsoring/attending physician’s practice and current clinical privileges.
• Office Responsibilities:
  • See patients in the clinic both independently and with supervision. Dictate clinic progress notes.
  • Order appropriate tests and develop patient treatment plans with physician approval.
  • Dictate H&P’s, consultations, and discharge summaries.
  • Perform joint aspirations/injections.
  • Interpret x-rays.
  • Apply casts, splints, braces, etc., under the supervision of the physician.
  • Remove staples, sutures, drains, etc.
  • Assist in fielding/triaging physician calls.
  • Review lab results, x-rays, and MRI/CT results prior to entering the patient exam room.
  • Confer with physicians regarding new patient findings and potential diagnosis and treatment.
  • Administer therapeutic injections and perform minor procedures as needed.
  • Review pre-operative instructions and explain the surgical process to patients who are about to have surgery.
  • Provide diagnosis and treatment services to established patients and postoperative patients.
  • Prescribe medications, treatments, in accordance with physician protocols and ensure that all prescriptions and required notes are in the patient’s medical record.
  • Formulate and update patient care plans; consult with the physician as needed.
  • Order pre-operative tests, CT scans, and MRIs, and document, utilizing the EHR software.
  • Follow applicable ICD-10 and billing guidelines.
  • Return patient phone messages at designated times throughout the day; follow through with appropriate action; document action taken in the patient chart.
  • Maintain a clean and safe work environment.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Scope of Privileges

• Patient Care:
  • Perform initial and ongoing clinical assessment of patients.
  • Obtain medical history and perform physical examination (countersigned by sponsoring/attending physician).
  • Develop treatment plans.
  • Perform basic patient care services including wound assessment, dressing change, suture removal.
  • Perform minor procedures such as application of cast or splint, reduction of displaced fracture, suturing deep and superficial structures, joint injection.
  • Perform additional procedures such as placement of traction pins, setting up traction, reduction of dislocated prosthesis (hip, knee, shoulder).
• Surgical Assistance:
  • Obtain preoperative history and perform physical examination of the patient.
  • Function as first or second assistant in the operating room on primary or incidental procedures for which the sponsoring/attending physician is approved.
  • Provide preoperative and postoperative education to the patient and family.
• Medical Record Documentation:
  • Write orders for treatment and diagnostic tests at the direction and co-signature of the sponsoring/attending physician.
  • Write orders for medications categorized as Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances, as defined in Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.
  • Dictate reports (e.g., History and Physical, Operative Notes, Discharge Summary).

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. Maintain a clean and safe work environment. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Education: Graduate of an accredited physician assistant program with completed residency. Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
• Certifications/Licensure: Active Certification from NCCPA. Active Licensure as a Physician’s Assistant in the State of Illinois. ACLS desirable; current CPR required.
• Experience:
  • Training in orthopedic care preferred.
  • At least two years of experience in a physician office or hospital is preferred.
  • History of exhibited competence, judgment, stability, and professional integrity.
  • Experience assisting physicians in surgery.
  • Experience diagnosing and treating patients.
  • Knowledge of practice management and EHR software.
• Technical Skills: Working knowledge of managed care basics, and experience working with a managed care and Medicare population.
• Soft Skills:
  • Ability to make independent decisions about patient care.
  • 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 at 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 strengths and weaknesses of alternate solutions or approaches to a problem.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Stand or sit for extended periods of time.
  • Able to lift and assist patients, as needed.

Pay

$76,500 - $136,500/year based on skills/experience