Physician Assistant, Primary Care APP

About the Role

The Complex Care Physician Assistant (Advanced Practice Provider) in Philadelphia provides services including counseling patients on the most appropriate setting to meet their healthcare needs, performing assessments and evaluations, and offering information on specialist services and end-of-life programs. This role emphasizes the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, evidence-based protocols, and screening, functioning as part of a large, integrated care team to deliver whole-person care in an outpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage and improve health for patients with multiple chronic medical conditions.
• Oversee a panel of approximately 200 to 250 chronic care ambulatory patients in an office-based setting.
• Collaborate in a team environment with social work, case management, behavioral health, pharmacy, nutrition, and other disciplines; process feedback and implement care plans from team members.
• Work under the supervision of a physician.
• Develop and implement strong transitional care plans, tracking paneled patients across the continuum of care, including hospital discharges, ER visits, skilled nursing facilities, and home care.
• Communicate with alternate levels of care facilities (hospitals, ERs, skilled nursing facilities) to facilitate appropriate discharges to lower levels of care or back to the AbsoluteCare Medical Center.
• Apply knowledge of inpatient medicine and discharge processes to support patient transitions.
• Treat acute exacerbations of chronic conditions within the AbsoluteCare center, such as administering Lasix for CHF, IV fluids for dehydration/renal failure, IV antibiotics for infections, and nebulizer/steroids for COPD/asthma.
• Determine when a patient’s condition can be treated within AbsoluteCare or requires a higher level of care, in collaboration with a supervising physician.
• Accept same-day, next-day, or urgent appointments for patients discharged from hospitals, ERs, or skilled nursing facilities, ensuring resolution of acute episodes and preventing readmissions.
• Monitor patients and their disease processes to reduce ER visits, hospital admissions, and readmissions.

Requirements

• Licensed Advanced Practice Provider in the state of practice.
• 2 years of experience as an Advanced Practice Provider in Primary Care.
• DEA and ACLS certification.
• Experience managing patients with multiple chronic medical conditions, such as CHF, COPD/asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic renal failure.
• Experience with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial populations.
• Knowledge of chronic disease management programs and services.
• Excellent organization and communication skills.
• Comfortable treating acutely ill patients in an outpatient setting, including administering IV hydration, IV antibiotics, wound care, and other services with physician collaboration.
• Long-term interest in AbsoluteCare Medical Center.
• Proficiency with EMR; experience with eClinicalWorks preferred.

Working Conditions

This role operates in a patient care setting with potential exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and infectious materials. Routine use of general office equipment is required. The position often involves wearing protective attire such as lab coats, gloves, and masks. The environment includes high patient traffic and shared workspaces.

Physical Requirements

The job may be physically demanding at times, requiring prolonged periods of standing or sitting, repetitive movements, and frequent handling of equipment or supplies weighing up to 20 lbs.