Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant

The Outpatient Imaging Physician Assistant (PA) supports the delivery of high-quality outpatient diagnostic and cardiology imaging services across Columbia's outpatient imaging network. The PA plays a critical clinical and operational role by facilitating appropriate imaging utilization, protocolling diagnostic examinations, placing radiology orders, performing patient assessment and monitoring, administering and monitoring contrast media and procedural medications, supporting clinical and research protocols, and ensuring timely communication and follow-up of imaging findings, including incidental findings.

Depending on site assignment and clinical need, the PA also supports specialized outpatient imaging programs including cardiac CT, PET nuclear cardiology, electrophysiology (EP) device interrogation workflows, and MR-guided breast biopsy. This position functions exclusively in outpatient settings and works collaboratively with diagnostic radiologists, cardiologists, electrophysiology teams, technologists, nursing staff, referring providers, research teams, and administrative leaders to enhance patient safety, imaging quality, access, and care coordination across the regional outpatient network.

Responsibilities

• Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging Operations
  • Assists diagnostic radiologists, imaging physicians, and cardiologists in the clinical management of patients undergoing outpatient diagnostic imaging studies, including advanced CT, MRI, and PET/CT examinations.
  • Protocols outpatient diagnostic imaging studies (CT, MRI, radiography, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine including PET, as applicable) to ensure appropriate modality selection, radiopharmaceutical and contrast use, and imaging parameters.
  • Reviews imaging requests for clinical appropriateness and collaborates with referring providers to optimize exam selection and scheduling.
  • Places and manages outpatient radiology orders in the EMR in accordance with institutional policies and New York State law.
  • Reviews outside imaging studies uploaded for outpatient interpretation to ensure completeness prior to radiologist review.
• Patient Assessment, Preparation, and Monitoring
  • Reviews the daily patient schedule to confirm required laboratory results, prior imaging, medical history, and supporting documentation are available prior to the procedure.
  • Performs patient assessments and preparation, including review of clinical history, imaging indications, contraindications, relevant laboratory data, and physical, psychological, and cognitive status as appropriate to the procedure and patient condition.
  • Obtains and monitors vital signs and performs point-of-care testing (glucose, creatinine, pregnancy) as clinically indicated.
  • Monitors patients throughout the imaging process for changes in clinical status and implements appropriate interventions; escalates critical occurrences to the appropriate level of authority.
  • Evaluates patients prophylactically medicated for claustrophobia or contrast allergy and confirms an appropriate escort home is in place when required.
  • Initiates pre- and post-procedure care and discharge planning.
• Contrast, Medication, and Vascular Access
  • Administers contrast media (intravenous, oral, rectal, and intracavitary routes), procedural medications, and intravenous fluids in accordance with physician orders, departmental standards, institutional policy, and applicable protocols.
  • Monitors patients for contrast or medication reactions and initiates appropriate response per departmental policy.
  • Establishes intravenous access for contrast administration and other clinically indicated purposes; accesses PORT and PICC lines using sterile technique.
  • Performs blood draws as needed and monitors arterial lines for research participants when indicated.
• Cardiac CT and PET Nuclear Cardiology
  • Supports outpatient coronary and cardiac CT imaging, including patient preparation, physiologic monitoring, and administration of medications such as beta blockers and nitroglycerin per departmental protocol to optimize image quality and patient safety.
  • Assesses heart rate, blood pressure, and contraindications prior to cardiac CT studies and monitors patients during and after imaging for medication effects or adverse reactions, escalating care when indicated.
  • Supports PET nuclear cardiology exams, including patient screening, informed consent, stress-test preparation and performance, physiologic monitoring, and timely escalation of abnormal symptoms or findings.
• Electrophysiology Device Services
  • Performs and supports EP device interrogation workflows for CIED patients (pacemakers, ICDs, CRT devices, loop recorders, and other implanted cardiac devices) in collaboration with EP, cardiology, and device manufacturer teams.
  • Evaluates device status and imaging-related considerations for patients with implanted or abandoned/capped leads; coordinates MRI conditionality review, documentation, monitoring requirements, and escalation when needed.
• MR-Guided Breast Biopsy Support
  • Supports MR-guided breast biopsy workflows, including patient assessment, preparation, contrast safety review, procedural coordination, post-procedure instructions, documentation, and care escalation as appropriate.
• Clinical Research Protocol Support
  • Supports clinical and research protocols by coordinating and monitoring patient care activities related to imaging studies and research participation, in accordance with study design and regulatory requirements.
• Follow-Up, Communication, and Care Coordination
  • Identifies and tracks incidental and actionable imaging findings, ensuring appropriate documentation, communication, and follow-up in collaboration with interpreting radiologists.
  • Communicates imaging recommendations and follow-up needs to referring providers and outpatient care teams in a timely and professional manner, and assists with coordination of downstream outpatient imaging, consultations, or referrals.
  • Documents all clinical encounters, orders, communications, and follow-up actions accurately and in a timely manner within the EMR.
• Patient Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance
  • Serves as a patient safety advocate and clinical role model, adhering to best practices and to institutional, departmental, regulatory, radiation, MRI, contrast, and Environmental Health and Safety policies.
  • Communicates and escalates patient safety, staff safety, and quality-of-care concerns to appropriate departmental leadership.
  • Collaborates with staff to identify safety events, near misses, and process vulnerabilities, and contributes to solutions that improve systems, processes, and outcomes.
  • Participates in the review of Serious Safety Events, including identification of root causes and development of corrective action plans, and in root cause analyses and failure mode and effects analyses as indicated.
  • Participates in quality improvement and access initiatives focused on outpatient imaging throughput, patient experience, and diagnostic accuracy.
  • Maintains required logs, checklists, and documentation in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements.
• Collaboration, Operations, and Professional Development
  • Works collaboratively with supervising physicians, technologists, nurses, administrative staff, research teams, and referring providers in support of patient-centered care, safety, access, and efficiency.
  • Serves as a clinical resource to outpatient imaging staff regarding exam protocols, contrast administration, EP device considerations, and workflow optimization, and ensures that patients, families, research participants, and care team members receive prompt attention and are treated with respect.
  • Collaborates with nursing, biomedical engineering, pharmacy, supply chain, and imaging operations staff to support readiness of patient care equipment and emergency resources (cardiac arrest cart, defibrillator, EKG, blood pressure equipment, pulse oximeter, medical gases) and the appropriate ordering, storage, and inventory of medications and supplies.
  • Promotes continuous professional development, evidence-based practice, and maintenance of certification and CME requirements.
  • Performs other duties as assigned consistent with the scope of outpatient diagnostic radiology and cardiology imaging practice.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum Education
  • Graduate of an ARC-PA-accredited or New York State Education Department-approved Physician Assistant education program
• Minimum Related Experience
  • Five (5) years of related experience
• Minimum Licensure/Certifications Required Upon Start Date
  • New York State Physician Assistant License
  • NCCPA Board Certification
  • BLS, ACLS, and PALS Certifications
  • DEA Certification
• Computer Skills