Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant

Position Reports to: Chief Medical Officer / Practice Manager

About Our Client, The Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS)

MHEDS was established 50 years ago as a joint project of the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches to meet the health needs of African-American and Hispanic Farm Workers and other low-income individuals and their families. Refugee and immigrant health were added in the late 1990s. On January 1, 2019, MHEDS entered the Federally Qualified Health Center system as a Look-Alike.

Our service area is the City of Erie. Our mission is to enable all who wish to achieve complete mental, physical and social well-being by providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care, regardless of their ability to pay. MHEDS has a very diverse panel of patients: 35% are Asian, 29% Black/African American, 29% White, and the remainder mixed race. 6% are Latino/a. As an FQHC Look-Alike, MHEDS must comply with standards that ensure all patients have access to comprehensive health care services. We also offer health insurance enrollment, interpretation, and translation.

MHEDS expanded by opening a second site at the JFK Center in 2020. The second site allowed us to begin to offer women's health and accommodation to serve more new arrivals. In late 2021, MHEDS began receiving Afghan refugees along with its anticipated arrivals. In early 2022 we began receiving Ukrainian refugees. Our anticipated 549 new patients became 1,010. This Federal Fiscal Year, we have been told to expect 750 refugees plus additional Afghans and an unknown number of Ukrainians. Eighty percent of MHEDS' staff are hired from within the New American group, allowing us to be more aligned both linguistically and culturally with those we serve.

Company Values

Here at MHEDS, we are Flexible, Ethical, Positive Communicators, Culturally Competent, Productive, and Team Players.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

• Functions independently to perform age-appropriate history and physical for health center patients.
• Maintains an accurate electronic medical record, completes charting responsibilities within time set by related policy; includes responding to orders, messages, progress notes, and results.
• Diagnoses health conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and laboratory studies and interpreting test results.
• Facilitates staff, patient and family decision making by providing educational tools and counseling.
• Performs procedures by administering injections and immunizations, and managing wounds and infections.
• Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities.
• Collaborates with patients and their support person(s) to develop and implement care plan.
• Monitors the effectiveness of interventions and modifying treatment plans, as needed.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members by making appropriate referrals.

Safety

• Adheres to safety, infection control, patient confidentiality, and related policies and procedures.

Continuing Education

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Remains up-to-date on clinical and scientific developments and shares necessary information with MHEDS staff.
• Explores innovative clinical practices and encourages clinical and support staff to adapt them to the needs of the health center.

Company Values

• Ensures the six domains of healthcare quality are met during each patient visit: patient safety, effectiveness, patient-centered, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.
• Consistent with MHEDS' values, treats all supervisors, co-workers, direct reports, patients, and any other internal or external person with respect and dignity.
• All other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or based on the needs of the health center.

Supervisory Capacity

This position does not supervise any position.

Education and/or Experience

• Graduation from an accredited physician's assistant program
• Current license to practice in Pennsylvania are all required
• Current Board Certification
• At least two years experience in family medicine required
• Experience working with an Electronic Health Record preferred
• Must be eligible for prescriptive authority

Language Skills

Must be able to speak and write in English. Additional language capabilities are a plus.

Physical Demands

Normal medical/administrative office setting demands include lifting and carrying or delivering supplies that usually weigh less than 10 pounds, but may occasionally weigh 20-30 pounds, within the building. Must possess a valid driver's license and have the ability to drive a private vehicle.

Work Environment

The office and clinical areas are well illuminated, climate controlled, indoor areas. Work involves some exposure to hazards typical to a medical office environment, including potential exposure to infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens, chemical exposures, fire, mechanical and electrical hazards. Protective clothing and equipment are provided and required to be worn in potential exposure situations.

Interested, qualified candidates will please submit a rsum. J.L. Nick & Associates & MHEDS are equal opportunity employers.