Sr Physician Assistant, Trauma (Swing Shift)

About the role

The position of Sr Physician Assistant – Trauma Service (Swing Shift) in the Department of Surgery requires a highly competent, independent yet team-oriented individual who will be immersed in the management and coordination of inpatient trauma care across the continuum.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive assessments, planning and evaluating care of trauma patients on the inpatient trauma service and in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU).
• Participate in structured inpatient sign-out at the beginning and end of shift to ensure continuity of care.
• Collaborate closely with Trauma surgeons, residents, nursing staff, case management, social work, and ancillary services.
• Respond to Rapid Response activations involving Trauma patients, participate in trauma resuscitations as assigned, perform surgical consultations on potential trauma or acute care surgery patients, and assist with bedside procedures within approved privileges and scope of practice (including chest tube removal, wound VAC changes, complex dressing changes, drain removal, laceration repairs, and tracheostomy downsizing or removal).
• Ensure discharge planning and throughput management, including coordination of Durable Medical Equipment (DME), home health services, discharge medications, and removal of barriers to safe discharge.
• Collaborate with the Trauma Nurse Navigator to ensure appropriate follow-up care and supports departmental patient flow initiatives consistent with operational goals.
• Review critical labs and results, perform tertiary examinations or prepare progress notes for SICU downgrades, ensure documentation meets regulatory, compliance, and billing standards, and maintain accurate and timely charting in the electronic medical record.
• Exercise diplomacy and flexibility in interacting with physicians, nurses, other paramedical personnel, administrators, emergency and law enforcement officers.
• Communicate medical information to a broad variety of people, both in person and over the telephone.
• Maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.
• Exercise active Board Certification from NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants) and hold an active National Provider Identifier (NPI) number.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain UCIMC Allied Health Professional Privileges prior to hire.
• HIPPA and other training completion as required by Medical Center.
• Annual TB screening and any applicable test to meet JCAHO requirements.
• Active Board Certification from NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants).
• Active National Provider Identifier (NPI) number.
• Current BLS and ACLS certification.
• Within six months of hire, ATLS certification.
• Two or more years of clinical experience managing adult or adolescent patients in an inpatient trauma, acute care surgery, or surgical critical care setting.

Qualifications

• Current, active, and unrestricted license as a Physician Assistant in the State of California.
• Practice agreements completed and on file in Department.
• Current DEA number from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
• Experience in Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, Critical Care, or Emergency Medicine, preferably in a high-acuity inpatient setting.
• Experience with inpatient discharge planning, care coordination, and patient throughput initiatives.