Physician Assistant - Surgical / Trauma

About the role

The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) provides high-quality, patient-centered care as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Working collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, the APP assesses, diagnoses, treats, and manages patients within their scope of practice and area of specialty. The APP is responsible for delivering evidence-based care, promoting positive patient outcomes, maintaining professional and regulatory standards, and supporting the clinical, educational, and operational goals of the department and organization.

Under the responsibility and supervision of the physician, the APP performs diagnostic and therapeutic tasks to extend the physician's services, assists and performs surgical procedures, participates in postoperative care and follow-up, and provides other medical/surgical services on patient divisions or in the emergency department as requested. The scope of activities falls within the area of competence of the supervising physician and complies with the rules and regulations of the board of medicine and Wheeling Hospital policies and procedures.

Stellar team with a brand new OR. Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all, including new grads.

Schedule

• Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–3:30 pm
• Weekend call required; must be within 30 minutes of the hospital
• Call burden is relatively light
• Scheduled weekly hours: 40 (exempt)

Responsibilities

• Performs history and physical examinations on inpatients and outpatients in the hospital if appropriate
• Establishes a presumptive diagnosis, orders appropriate laboratory studies, and manages the patient's problems following diagnosis under the physician's supervision
• Assists in hospital rounds
• Makes complete entries in the medical record, writes progress notes, and records verbal orders on the order sheet relayed from the supervising physician (orders reviewed and countersigned by the supervising physician or designee)
• Initiates appropriate laboratory, radiologic, and special examinations for evaluation of illness
• Communicates with patients regarding their problems under the instructions of the supervising physician
• Provides counseling and instruction to patients regarding health-related problems
• Prepares and dictates discharge summaries of hospitalization if assisted with the patient's surgery and made rounds on the patient
• Maintains annual CPR certification
• Functions as first and second assist on major and minor surgery as directed by the supervising physician in the hospital
• Manages medical emergencies and initiates appropriate therapy until the arrival of a physician
• Assists in the training of health personnel in certain diagnostic, therapeutic, and clinical techniques as directed by the supervising physician
• Participates in appropriate continuing medical education programs
• Performs clinical procedures under the direction and/or supervision of the supervising physician (procedures permitted must be noted in the individual job description and approved by the supervising physician, departmental directors, the medical executive committee, and the board of directors of the hospital)
• Evaluates patients in the emergency room under supervision of the emergency/trauma center physician, informs attending physician of pertinent findings, and assists in developing diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans
• Rotates on-call as required for emergent surgeries and responds to trauma pages in the emergency department providing assistance as necessary
• Rotates on-call as required on medical or surgical service performing patient evaluation, informing attending physician of pertinent findings, and assisting in developing diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans
• Assists in necessary preparations prior to surgery
• Assists in post-partum care of patient
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited physician assistant program
• West Virginia certification and/or license as required
• ACLS certification

Physical requirements

Frequent prolonged standing and walking; exposure to infection from disease-bearing specimens; exposure to patient elements and unpleasant elements such as accidents, injuries, and illness. Must be able to handle emergency or crisis situations and be subjected to long irregular hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Location

Reynolds Memorial Hospital (SMG Surgery RMH), 800 Wheeling Avenue, Glen Dale, West Virginia