Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for assisting hospital-based physicians in providing specialized inpatient healthcare services that provide for quality, efficient and effective patient care in accordance with Franciscan Health System (FHS) standards/guidelines, applicable statutory requirements and accepted clinical practice for the Physician Assistant profession. An incumbent is engaged in admitting, consulting, attending and discharging Inpatient Team patients following established protocols as determined by the Inpatient Team Medical Director. Work includes providing direct patient care by examining, diagnosing and analyzing total patient health condition, and developing short- and long-term goals and treatment plans in collaboration with a physician and/or established protocols/standards. Physician Assistants are familiar with the patients throughout the continuum of care, and they tailor care and education to meet each patient's needs.
Requires licensure as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), with prescriptive authority. An incumbent exercises a high degree of independent judgment and applies advanced skills obtained through academic and clinical preparation. Unusual problems or proposed deviations from guidelines, practices or precedents are discussed with a physician before being initiated.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The following section contains representative examples of job duties that might be performed in positions allocated to this job class. FHS is a dynamic organization, and the environment can be fluid. Roles and responsibilities may be altered to accommodate changing business conditions and objectives as well as to tap into the skills and experience of its employees. Accordingly, employees may be asked to perform duties that are outside the specific work that is listed. It is not required that any position perform all duties listed, so long as primary responsibilities are consistent with the work as described. Performance standards developed for incumbents allocated to this job class may also contain relevant job content information and are referenced hereto.
- Assesses and interprets the health of hospitalized patients to determine patient care needs by taking extensive personal and family medical histories; contacts and/or consults with primary care physician in cases where additional medical information regarding previous illness or treatment is required; communicates the progress and needs of the patient during hospitalization and at time of discharge; presents pertinent data to Inpatient Physician or members of inter-disciplinary team in accordance with established procedures.
- Performs thorough physical examinations of patients utilizing the techniques of observation, inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation and related methods; arranges, orders and evaluates patient’s screening, diagnostic and therapeutic services/tests as necessary to obtain additional data upon which evidence-based patient care protocols will be determined; reviews and evaluates results.
- Evaluates patient’s clinical diagnosis and initiates appropriate management in accordance with medical guidelines and protocols; develops and carries out treatment plan(s); manages cases from inception to termination for various conditions/diseases (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, dietary deficiencies, kidney infections, and communicable/respiratory diseases, etc); prescribes and administers appropriate medications within the limits of the applicable legal statute; refers patient to specialized services as needed.
- Performs routine therapeutic and minor surgical procedures such as administering injections, incising/draining infections, caring for superficial wounds, lacerations and burns, removing foreign bodies and lesions from the skin, and administering subcutaneous local anesthesia; performs routine laboratory and screening techniques such as drawing venous blood and interpreting laboratory findings, taking cultures, performing pulmonary function tests, tonometry and audiometry.
- Monitors ongoing delivery of patient care services; evaluates medical condition of patient and in collaboration with physician and other healthcare providers; interprets monitoring data to determine when a change in care is appropriate and makes decisions regarding treatment changes within defined scope of responsibility; follows up to ensure treatment is delivered as ordered, and to ensure continuity of medical care; advises physician of developments in patient’s condition when indicated.
- Collaborates with physicians, professional nursing staff and ancillary members of the patient care team in determining patient care, treatment and the general management of patients; interprets and facilitates the application of standards of the Physician Assistant practice to the patient care process. Will actively participate in collaborative care rounding and other key patient care and quality initiatives, to include rounding.
- Explains/interprets results, findings and diagnosis to patient and/or patient’s family; answers questions and provides counseling and advice on methods of treatment, control/prevention.
- Completes medical records in a timely manner, consistent with all related Medical Staff Bi-Laws. Documents, in a thorough and accurate manner, all interactions in patient’s medical record in accordance with FHS procedures; prepares written reports and related documentation as required; applies knowledge for completion of medical coding/billing practices to facilitate proper reimbursement via Epic and any other required systems.
- Attends and actively participates in Inpatient Team staff meetings; presents and discusses clinical concerns and issues; maintains established departmental policies and procedures, quality improvement, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
- Makes referrals to other healthcare providers as necessary; confers directly regarding diagnosis or care-management problems.
- Keeps abreast of trends, developments and regulatory requirements impacting matters within designated scope of responsibility.
- May instruct nursing staff and paraprofessionals in techniques for enhancing their diagnostic, treatment, counseling, and/or referral skills.
Performs related duties as required.
MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS: The following section contains representative examples of competencies and job qualifications directly related to successful performance in the position. The categories are broad, reflecting minimum requirements. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible requirements nor does it include general competencies, expectations and/or skills that are universally applicable to the work, but are not critical for recruitment purposes or to overall job performance.
Education/Work Experience Requirements
Board certified or eligible. Internal Medicine or Family Practice with special interest in Internal Medicine specialty.
Job Knowledge/Skills:
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Licensure/Certification
Licensure in the State of Washington.
BLS and ACLS certification.