Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner (Interventional Pain & Spine)

Physician Assistant Or Nurse Practitioner (Interventional Pain & Spine)

The Advanced Practice Provider (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) provides high-quality, patient-centered care within a growing interventional pain and spine practice in a multidisciplinary orthopedic setting. Working collaboratively with the supervising physician and care team, the APP evaluates, manages, and coordinates care for patients with spine, musculoskeletal, and chronic pain conditions through evidence-based, nonoperative, and interventional treatment pathways.

This role focuses primarily on established patient follow-up care, post-procedural evaluations, imaging and diagnostic review, repeat injection pathway management, medication follow-ups, and new patient evaluations. The APP plays a key role in improving patient access, supporting continuity of care, enhancing clinical efficiency, and helping patients progress appropriately through individualized treatment plans that may include therapy, medications, imaging, injections, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and other interventional pain procedures.

The position is part-time, initially scheduled three days per week, with opportunity for future growth as patient volume and practice needs evolve. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong clinical curiosity, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and an interest in contributing to the continued growth of a high-quality physician-led interventional pain and spine program.

Primary duties and responsibilities include evaluating and managing patients with spine, musculoskeletal, and chronic pain conditions in accordance with established clinical protocols and supervising physician guidance. Performing established patient follow-up visits, including post-procedure evaluations following epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks (MBB), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), SI joint injections, and other interventional pain procedures. Assisting with repeat injection planning, RFA pathway management, and coordination of appropriate next steps in care based on clinical response and physician-directed treatment plans. Reviewing MRI studies, imaging reports, diagnostic testing, and clinical findings with patients to support treatment planning and patient understanding. Managing stable medication follow-up visits with minimal opioid management responsibilities. Obtaining comprehensive patient histories and performing focused physical examinations to assess functional limitations, pain patterns, treatment response, and progression of symptoms. Documenting conservative treatment measures, prior procedural response, medical necessity, functional impairment, and other payer-required elements to support insurance authorization and treatment approval processes. Educating patients regarding diagnoses, treatment options, expectations, procedural pathways, and functional recovery goals. Collaborating closely with the physician, clinic team, scheduling staff, and authorization team to support efficient patient flow and continuity of care. Helping improve patient access through efficient management of recheck visits and support of new patient evaluations as practice growth evolves. Identifying patient conditions requiring escalation, physician consultation, referral, or additional specialty evaluation. Ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, laboratory testing, imaging, and other related evaluations as appropriate within scope of practice. Ordering, prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications, orthotics, braces, and other treatment modalities according to standard protocols and applicable regulations. Maintaining timely, accurate, and thorough patient documentation within the electronic medical record. Adhering to all HIPAA, PHI, compliance, and patient confidentiality standards. Participating in quality improvement initiatives and maintaining knowledge of current trends and developments in spine, musculoskeletal medicine, and interventional pain management. Supporting the continued growth and future expansion of the interventional pain and spine practice, including potential growth in clinic days and additional service locations. Performing other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate is clinically curious, compassionate, efficient, and comfortable caring for patients with chronic spine and musculoskeletal pain conditions. This role is well-suited for an APP interested in interventional and nonoperative spine care within a collaborative orthopedic environment. Candidates should possess strong interest in spine, pain management, and interventional treatment pathways. Excellent communication skills and patient-centered bedside manner. Ability to manage a structured outpatient clinic schedule efficiently. Strong clinical documentation habits and attention to detail. Comfort reviewing imaging findings and treatment plans with patients. Willingness to learn payer documentation and authorization requirements. Sound clinical judgment regarding independent management versus physician escalation. Team-oriented, coachable, and growth-minded approach to patient care. Interest in contributing to the development of a high-quality physician-led pain and spine practice.

Prior experience in orthopedics, spine, PM&R, neurosurgery, sports medicine, or pain management is preferred; however, motivated candidates with strong clinical aptitude and willingness to learn are encouraged to apply.

Competencies include service, change agent, communication and interpersonal relations, and effectiveness. All OrthoIllinois employees focus on service by putting the mission, vision, and value statements into practice and using the guiding principles of compassion, respect, trust, integrity, innovation, education fiscal responsibility, practice independence, accountability, and empowerment to direct their interactions and decision making. Employees promote and model the service standards to create lasting impressions, extraordinary moments, exceptional on-stage experiences, and meaningful and compassionate connections.

Education and experience requirements include a graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner program, current Illinois Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure, current DEA registration and Illinois Controlled Substance license, current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and prior experience in orthopedics, spine, PM&R, pain management, neurosurgery, or related musculoskeletal specialty preferred.

Environmental/working conditions include work performed primarily in an outpatient orthopedic clinic and medical office setting. Physical/mental demands include standing for long periods of time, walking for periods of time, and climbing stairs. Requires lifting, carrying, or moving heavier objects (i.e. pushing or pulling up to 100 pounds and lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds. Possess full range of motion in shoulders and arms, including reaching above or below the shoulder in order to operate power tools and medical equipment when needed. Finger dexterity, the ability to twist hands/wrists repetitively, pushing/pulling against stiff joints, using a variety of holds; demonstrating exercises, lifting/raising over shoulder height. Vision: Posses close, distant, peripheral and color vision and ability to adjust focus. Hearing: ability to detect high pitch, soft or distant sounds.

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.