Physician Assistant, Staff or Senior - BMA Internal Medicine

UPMC Altoona Regional Health Services is seeking a Full-Time Physician Assistant to support Blair Medical Associates - Internal Medicine.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday, daylight hours
• No on-call or weekend shifts

Department Details

• Tight-knit team consisting of 2 medical assistants, 5 licensed practical nurses, 3 physicians, and 3 advanced practice providers
• Collaborative environment focused on high-quality patient care

Responsibilities

• Contribute to UPMC’s mission of Life Changing Medicine
• Set standards for the level and quality of care for the care delivery team
• Provide patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with physicians, other healthcare providers, patients, and their families
• Demonstrate commitment to the community and the healthcare profession
• Apply basic professional practice knowledge and skills appropriate for the practice setting
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in documentation
• Demonstrate critical thinking in all areas of professional practice
• Incorporate acceptable standards of professional practice to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction
• Formulate a plan of care considering individual patient needs
• Demonstrate initiative and seek opportunities to improve clinical practice
• Seek guidance and ask questions to continuously improve professional practice
• Build relationships with patients, families, and colleagues
• Identify ethical situations and seek assistance
• Accept assignments that gradually increase patient load and complexity
• Engage in clinical development of all members of the healthcare team
• Request opportunities to learn advanced professional practice techniques
• Seek, accept, and utilize performance feedback as a learning opportunity
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for continuous learning and create a plan for development
• Identify patient and family needs for education and provide basic education
• Seek professional development through membership in professional organizations or reading literature
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of research and its impact on practice
• Demonstrate knowledge of how quality and innovation impact patient satisfaction and outcomes
• Identify opportunities for improvement in the clinical area
• Communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the healthcare team
• Demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in health professions
• Support safety in the workplace for patients and self
• Demonstrate accountability for professional development to improve practice and patient care quality
• Make recommendations for clinical care and workplace improvement
• Lead by building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines
• Set priorities and serve as an engaged team member
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patients served
• Demonstrate knowledge of growth and development principles over the life span
• Assess data reflective of patient status and interpret information for age-specific needs
• Provide care as described in department policy and procedures

Requirements

• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, staff, and patients/families
• Ability to work productively in a complex environment with multiple priorities
• Critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities related to patient care
• Good clinical judgment
• Critical thinking skills to lead others in applying standards of practice
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients

Qualifications

For Physician Assistant (PA):

• Graduate of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) required
• BS or MS candidate preferred
• Experience as a physician assistant and/or in a clinical setting preferred
• Current state PA license certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) required
• Current CPR certification required
• Act 33, Act 73, and Act 34 clearances required

For Senior Level:

• Minimum 3 years of experience or completion of a post-graduate residency
• Successful completion of an approved Nurse Practitioner or ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant program required
• BSN, MSN preferred for CRNP; BS or MS preferred for PA
• Completion of national certification required
• Must achieve a Solid/Strong/Good performance rating or higher on annual evaluation
• Completion of an OAPP-approved professional contribution within one year of hire or promotion
• Department chair approval for promotion required
• ACLS, ITLS, NALS, PALS, or other AHA-standard certifications (including didactic and skills components) within 30 days of hire
• For outpatient or non-inpatient settings, APPs may use a business unit-approved certification relevant to the practice

Benefits

• Career path providing experience for current and future positions
• Comprehensive health and welfare benefits (medical, vision, dental, life, and disability)
• Exceptional retirement program
• Work-life balance support: PTO, wellness programs, paid parental leave
• Competitive pay including base pay, merit, and premium pay
• Sign-on bonus available if applicable