Physician Assistant

Position Overview : Under the supervision of a physician, the Physician's Assistant provides healthcare to patients. Obtains patient history and performs preliminary physical exams. May order x-rays, electrocardiograms, laboratory tests, and other procedures. May administer injections, immunizations, suturing, and wound care. Maintains records and progress reports on patient's plan of care, treatments, and procedures. Instructs patients on use of prescriptions.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities :

Take or review patients' medical histories. Examine patients. Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x-rays or blood tests. Diagnose a patient's injury or illness and give treatment. Educate and counsel patients and their families. Prescribe medicine. Assess and record a patient's progress. Research the latest substance use disorder treatments to ensure quality patient care. Conduct or participate in outreach programs, talking to groups about managing diseases and promoting wellness.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

Master's Degree from accredited college/university accredited by Accredited Review Commission for Physician's Assistants (ARC-PA). Must take and pass Physician Assistant National Association Certifying Exam (PANCE) from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Active DEA (and CDS if required by state) license. For all full time NP, the DEA and CDS must match facility address. For part-time and PRN, DEA and CDS may not require the address to be the facility address. Current CPR or BLS certification preferred (or must complete during orientation period) Excellent verbal communication skills. Critical thinking skills and ability to formulate accurate medical/psychiatric assessment. Understanding of ASAM criteria and levels of care. Ability to safely prescribe medications and administer as needed. Competency in performing CLIA waived testing as needed. Proficiency in screening and assessing for suicide ideation and aggression. Medical Knowledge: An understanding of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion and disease prevention. Physician assistants must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written exchange of information. Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, their patients' families, physicians, professional associates, and the health care system. Patient Care: Patient care includes age-appropriate assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness. Professionalism: The expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Also involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one's own. Professionalism also requires that Physician's Assistants practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency, or mental illness. Physician's Assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment: The Physician's Assistant will work in the in-patient facility provide direct care for patients seeking substance use disorder treatment in office and examination room settings. They spend much of their time on their feet, actively working with patients.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to administer at least 2 consecutive minutes of quality CPR.

Travel: Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected